Highlights from Monday’s throne speech at the Manitoba legislature

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba government tabled its throne speech Monday, kicking off a new legislative session with promises to wrestle an $846 million deficit inherited from the previous NDP government. Here are some of the key promises made:

— Bring in a bill to control public-sector wage increases.

— Cut 20 per cent of the province’s roughly 200 agencies, boards and commissions.

— Relax regulations governing public-private partnerships.

— Introduce proposed legislation to crack down on ticket scalping for sports and entertainment events.

— Reduce the number of children in the child welfare system and give new powers to the Office of the Children’s Advocate.

— Bring in a proposed law to require a referendum on major tax hikes, similar to one scrapped earlier this year.

— Introduce a voluntary pooled retirement pension plan for workers not covered by a company plan.

— Come up with a price on carbon and a regulatory regime for marijuana, to be worked out with the federal government.

— Establish stand-alone agency to promote energy efficiency, separate from Manitoba Hydro.