Manitoba premier promises regular 100-day government updates

One hundred days down, expect another government update in100 days from now, says Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister.

Pallisteris promisingto keep Manitobansinformed on where his government is atin its efforts to "rebuild this province and to get it back on track."

He said he'll give regularupdates on the Progressive Conservativegovernment's work every 100 days, with the next update scheduled for November.

• Manitoba's PC government reaches 100-day mark

On Thursday morning, the premier listed some of his government's highlights to date, including the tabling ofa budget in short order, forming his legislative team and building strong relationships with other premiers across Canada.

"We're just getting going but we are excited with some of the progress we've made," Pallister told reporterson the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature.

Manitoba gets consensus on CPP changes

Pallistersaidhe'ssecured the support of otherprovincial leaders for a Manitoba-led proposal forCanada Pension Plan reform. Earlier this year, the provinceheld back its vote on changes to the CPP, but it eventually agreed to sign on.

• Manitoba offers ideas for CPP reform after rejecting federal proposal
• Manitoba agrees to sign Canada Pension Plan reform deal

"I am really pleased to tell you today we have a consensus among all premiers of the countryof the changes we have proposed [and]will be supported by them as we move into out triannualreview of the Canada Pension Plan," Pallister said, adding thatthe Manitoba-proposedreforms will make the CPP better for all retirees.

It's clear thatPallister relishes his role in inter-provincial and federal-provincial relations. He spoke glowingly of his counterparts from other parts of the country and said he was surprisedbut pleased to have spoken to Prime Minister Justin Trudeausix times in the PC government'sfirst 100 days in office.

On some major files,Pallister admits much more work is needed. On the closure of the Port of Churchill, he said discussions are continuing to find a solution. He would not say if he hasspoken to executives at OmniTrax, the company that is closing the port.

• OmniTrax under fire in Churchill after company closes port

Pallisterwas pressed by reporters on what projects that were promised funding by the previous NDP government would see provincial money. On Wednesday,the government announced it willmake good on a $9-million pledge by the NDP in 2015 for theChurchill Marine Observatory.

Funding still under review

Pallister saidhis government is reviewing a number offunding promises, adding up to approximately $600 million, and it would notbe funding them all.

"Many of these promises that were made were more desperate than they were sustainable and affordable," Pallister said.

Pallister was asked to clarify his election promise to protect front-line provincial staff while balancing Manitoba's books. He saidin his first 100 days, "an enlightening amount of information has come forward" that he did not have when he was opposition leader.

Now as premier, Pallister saidhe has to "appraise a situation that's real," but he reiterated his party'selection promise.

"My commitment has always been to support front-line services for people in Manitoba and those services can't be delivered without front-line service workers and that remains my commitment," he said.

Pallister did tell reporters the governmentwould look at middle-level civil servants and duplication,with an eye to creating efficient services.

Pallister is also signalling growing concerns about federal health-care transfers and possible cuts to Manitoba's share. He identified Ottawa's part of the health-care funding as roughly a third and saidreviews of wait times and other health-care-related activity would be influenced by what the federal government is sending to the province.

100 days gets failing grade from NDP

The opposition NDP chose to mark the first 100 days of the Pallister government with a news conference on Wednesday.

Interim leader Flor Marcelinoblasted the PCs forthreateninglabour peace with new legislation, cutting school tax rebates for seniors and allowingunemployment to rise.

"His government's actions are going to increase the gap between the rich and the poor. One of the first things he did was to give himself and his cabinet a big raise. At the same time he refuses to raise the minimum wage," Marcelino said.