November 2005

HANSARD A Report from the Government Relations Office NOVEMBER 2005 In this Edition… Federal Economic And Fiscal Update - Impact On The University of Manitoba • Provincial Speech From the Throne On November 15, 2005, Finance • A review of the Canada Student Loans Pro- • The federal Lobbyists Minister Ralph Goodale presented gram to determine if it is properly assessing stu- Registration Act the 2005 Economic and Fiscal Up- dent needs and related issues; • The City of Winnipeg date and unveiled A Plan for Growth EPC shuffle R&D - Related Announcements and Prosperity - an economic plan aimed at improving Canada’s pro- More than $2.1 billion in new funding over Events Calendar • ductivity and securing the nation’s the next 5 years to sustain Canada’s leadership November 24 long-term economic prosperity. in university-based research and to accelerate Potential introduction date the commercialisation of new technologies; of non-confidence motion What may be welcomed as good in the House of Commons • Almost doubling the current funding in sup- news to the University of Manitoba port for universities’ indirect costs of research, to December 6 are the many measures relating to reach $510 million per year by 2007-08; Stuart Murray, Leader of post-secondary education (PSE) and the Opposition, will address the Manitoba research and development (R&D), • $500 million in support for new research in- Chamber of Commerce including: frastructure; December 8 PSE - Related Announcements • A commitment to ensuring that Canada is a Gary Doer, Premier of world-leader in environmental research and tech- Manitoba, will address the • $2.2 billion over 5 years to improve Winnipeg Chamber of nologies; student financial assistance and make Commerce PSE more affordable; • Additional resources for the Canadian Insti- December 9 to March 6 tute for Advanced Research to assist networking • $550 million over 5 years to extend Canada Manitoba Legislature in Canadian researchers; and recess Access Grants to assist more than 75,000 students per-year from low-income families in un- • A recommitment to the goal of devoting 5% December 13 dergraduate education; Ron Lemieux, Minister of of federal R&D to the priorities of the developing Transportation and Gov- world. • $3.5 billion over the next 5 years to increase ernment Services, will workplace-based training programs and to en- address the Manitoba Traditionally, a fiscal update merely provides Chamber of Commerce hance the participation of Aboriginal people, im- migrants and persons with disabilities in the Ca- Canadians with an indication of the status of nadian economy; the government’s finances and allows the government to make mid-course adjust- • $1 billion in 2005-06 for a PSE Innovation ments as necessary. Hansard Fund to ensure that institutions provide quality is published by the Government Relations teaching and learning environments; With an election looming, the combination of Office. this economic update and the new economic • Close to $200 million over the next 5 years to If you have any comments plan were structured more as a typical fed- or questions please con- provide up to 3,500 internships and 500 M.B.A. tact us at: scholarships for natural and health sciences and eral budget and will likely serve as a pre- 106 Administration engineering graduates, and to support knowl- election statement and the basis of the Lib- Building edge-based clusters to enhance the capability of eral Government’s campaign platform. University of Manitoba firms to perform R&D, adopt new technologies (204) 474-7881 and commercialise discoveries; Therefore, although the Update and Plan Fax: (204) 474-8421 Government_Relations were well-focused, targeting innovation, and @umanitoba.ca • An increase in support for grad students in all containing some good news for universities, disciplines; their implementation will be dependent upon the outcome of the next federal election. HANSARD Page 2 The Lobbyists Registration Act How it applies to you... Provincial Speech From the Throne: University Highlights As part of your job at the University of Manitoba, do you speak or write to federal government officials about: On October 27, 2005, the provincial government intro- duced the Speech From the Throne which outlined the • existing or proposed federal legislation, policies or government’s priorities and agenda for the upcoming programs? legislative session. • the awarding of federal contracts, grants, contribu- tions, tax credits or other financial benefits? or The Government noted that Manitoba’s colleges and • the arrangement of meetings with federal govern- universities have seen the largest increase in enrolment ment officials? in the country since 1999, increasing by more than one- third. Among the other items relevant to the University Are you paid to provide independent opinions on federal of Manitoba were: public policy on behalf of a third party? • No reference to the current tuition policy or to future Do you have an ownership interest in a commercial post-secondary education funding levels, but a com- matter or in external research ventures, through which mitment to seek more federal funds for advanced you communicate with federal government officials? education; • A reference to the recent openings of the Engineer- If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, as a ing and Information Technology Complex and the result of recent changes to the federal Lobbyists Regis- Norrie Centre as examples of the outcome of the tration Act, these activities are now defined as ‘lobbying’ $100 million capital investment made by the provin- and you, by extension, are ‘lobbying’ the government. cial government in 2000; • A reference to the soon-to-be completed Richard- Universities are required to register all staff members son Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals who engage in oral or written communication with the as an example of university-based research and de- federal government. velopment which will support the future of food pro- duction in Manitoba; Contraventions of the Act may carry fines of up to • A commitment to establish a new scholarship for the $25,000 or jail terms of up to two years upon summary Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences at the Uni- conviction. versity of Manitoba; • The addition of children’s dental services as a prior- Therefore, if you routinely interact with federal govern- ity under Manitoba’s Wait Time Reduction Strategy; ment officials, elected or bureaucratic, please contact and our Government Relations Office at 474.7881 or visit • The prioritisation of foreign credential and qualifica- http://www.umanitoba.ca/government_relations. tion recognition. Mayor Katz Shuffles EPC On October 31, 2005, Mayor Sam Katz shuffled the powerful Executive Policy Committee. Comparable to a Cabinet, EPC is City Council’s key decision making body. EPC now includes: • Councillor Mike Pagtakhan (ward includes the Bannatyne Campus) - Deputy Mayor, Secretary for Aboriginal Opportunities and Youth Ambassador. • Councillor Mike O’Shaughnessy - Chair of Fiscal Issues. • Councillor Franco Magnifico - Chair of Downtown Development and Chair of the Kansas City Economic Partnership Committee. • Councillor Gord Steeves - Chair of Protection and Community Services. • Councillor Bill Clement - Chair of Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works. • Councillor Peter De Smedt - Chair of Planning and Development. As well, Councillor Justin Swandel (ward includes the Fort Garry campus) will be the Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Alternative Service Delivery. Councillor Mark Lubosch will retain his responsibilities as Secretary of Urban Environmental Strategies. .

Load more