A new session of the Manitoba Legislature kicked off Monday afternoon. A Speech From The Throne and election of Speaker highlighted the afternoon's agenda, but Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen notes it was a much shorter Throne Speech than is customary.

Goertzen explains that after an election, a return to the Legislature must be marked with a new session. And, that new session requires a Speech From The Throne. Goertzen says normally the Throne Speech happens in November to begin a new session and so today's Speech was merely a formality, and therefore very short.

The speech highlighted key government commitments including:
• completing necessary legislative requirements in order to fully implement the measures outlined in Budget 2019;
• continuing to work to make Manitoba more economically competitive by reducing regulatory red tape and encouraging innovation;
• completing the implementation of the New West Partnership Trade Agreement;
• addressing addictions and public safety issues; and
• making strategic investments to strengthen front-line health, education and social services.

(Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen)According to Goertzen, the primary purpose of the next two weeks in the Legislature is to complete the budget process. He says there needs to be 100 hours given to examine the budget line by line. This is where the opposition is able to ask questions in great detail. Goertzen says they plan to complete that around October 11th. Then, a new Speech From The Throne will likely be delivered in mid-November and then the next budget will come forward, probably in spring of next year.

As mentioned, there was also an election Monday. Myrna Driedger was re-elected Speaker of the assembly by secret ballot.

Having been re-elected now several times, returning to the Legislature is nothing new to Goertzen. Yet, he says he finds days like today enjoyable.

"What I always find enjoyable is the new members who do come into the Legislature, sort of watching them and sort of remembering what it was like for me as a new MLA a few years ago and kind of reliving that experience through them," says Goertzen.

He notes Monday was also a chance to introduce himself to the new MLAs from the different parties and learn a bit about them.

"Often people just see the back and forth debate that happens between MLAs and political parties and that is certainly an important part of the democratic process," says Goertzen. "But what people often don't see is there is a lot of camaraderie and understanding between members even from different parties. So I wanted to introduce myself to the newly elected MLAs and look forward to working with them even though I'm sure we won't always agree."