NDP fail Manitoba when it comes to research and innovation

NDP give little attention to Research and Innovation even though it is one of the most important area to emphasize if Manitoba is to move forward

Under the NDP, Manitoba rate of investment in research and innovation is 0.82% of GDP, just half the national average of 1.64%. It shows that the NDP have failed to ensure investment in one of the most important area to the future of our province. It is no wonder Manitoba continues to do poorly compared to other provinces.

The lack of investment in research and development and in innovation is a major reason behind the NDP’s continued failure to halt the brain-drain of skilled Manitobans leaving for other provinces.

The poor record of the NDP is apparent from a look at the “Invest” section of MB Check-up, a report issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba.


Indicators shown in report include:
statistics from the

· Manitoba’s ratio of R&D investment to GDP of 0.82% – half the Canadian average of 1.64%
· Manitoba’s employment share of workers in the natural and applied sciences that has fallen from 5.3% in 2000 to 4.9% in 2005, while the Canadian average rose from 6.7% to 6.9% during the same period
· Manitoba has one of the lowest rates in Canada for labour productivity at 32.3%, far behind the rest of Canada (37.6%) including Alberta (40.7%), Ontario (39.1%), British Columbia (35.8%) and Saskatchewan (35.7%)
· Manitoba has an effective provincial tax rate of 17.8% at the $80,000 bracket, one that is considerably higher than the rest of Canada (15.3%), and in particular Ontario (14.6%), Saskatchewan (13.6%), Alberta (10.2%) and British Columbia (10.1%)

The falling proportion of employment share of workrs in the natural and applied sciences indicates either Manitoba is not training enough scientists, engineers, skilled labourers, entrepreneurs, and other professionals – or we are disproportionately losing these highly-skilled and educated individuals to other provinces. The latter is far more consistent with what I hear from young people. They’re the ones saying Manitoba is not doing enough to create the jobs that will keep them here. What we really need is a Liberal provincial government and a Liberal Premier who is interested in keeping talent in Manitoba and knows how to get the job done.