Always the Labour Supporter

In his role as Premier of Manitoba for the past 10 years, Gary Doer needed to listen to all sides and govern with the best interests of all Manitobans in mind. In the role he will be assuming later this month, Canada's ambassador to the United States, he will have to be 'non-partisan'. But if you didn't already know it, his speech to the MFL Convention left little doubt in anyone's mind that he will always be a friend to the labour movement.

He started his comments by noting that outgoing MFL president Darlene Dziewit had often worked closely with him, both before he was premier and since then. He noted that both he and Darlene are now 'going out' at the same time.

Doer went on to remind delegates of how during the NDP's time in office, they had introduced many important pieces of legislation dealing with a wide range of issues including the environment, providing economic opportunities and development for all Manitobans in all areas of the province, and especially in the area of labour legislation, pieces of legislation that have benefited all working Manitobans, including annual increases to the minimum wage, workplace aafety and health, workers compensation and pension benefits. One accomplishment he is particularly proud of is finally giving agricultural workers the protection of the Employment Standards Act. He also thinks the extra statutory holiday his government brought in, Louis Riel Day in February, will be popular with working men and women for many years to come.