PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
RReocaodv teor y By Carla Milne, President, CARM
As we enter the ninth month of
dealing with the COVID-19
pandemic, governments
are working intensely on
moving past economic stabilization to
economic recovery.
Manitoba was fortunate with fewer
businesses being forced to close between
March and June, 4.9 per cent versus 9.6
per cent for the nation. Employment in
Manitoba is up, resulting in our province
having the lowest unemployment rates in
the country.
Everyday is still a challenge as we
continue down the road to recovery.
We need to continue to move away
from emergency assistance and build
back the economy. Manitoba launched
#RestartMB in August with the focus on
public safety and economic recovery. We
applaud their leadership for the quick
response to the fact that consumer and
business confidence were reduced.
Every industry was impacted and the
need to ensure workplace confidence
and implement measures to stimulate
spending were key. Manitoba Gap
Protection, a variety of wage subsidies
(including the Back to Work Program
and Job Restart Program) and Restoring
Safe Schools plans were included in
this launch.
Over the next few months, we would
like our province to consider moving into
economic recovery by offering refundable
tax credits and other temporary
tax waivers, including:
• Costs associated with retrofitting
an office or place of business for
safety including HVAC systems,
automatic doors, elevator systems and
handwashing stations.
• Renovation costs for individuals
to stimulate spending including
upgrades that qualify as eco-friendly
and/or improve a home’s energy
efficiency as well as living spaces for
live-in caregivers.
SUTHISAKAEWKAJNG/123RF PHOTO CURTESY OF MNP
BUILDING RURAL MANITOBA | 5