Manitoba to spend $10M on Green Teams, Premier Brian Pallister announces

The government of Manitoba will spend $10 million on Green Teamsto support the creation of community-centred jobs for young Manitobans.

The money is expected to provide up to 2,000 jobs forManitobans, Premier Brian Pallistersaid at a news conference on Tuesday.

"This investment will help students gain critical work experience, support employers during the response and recovery phases of the COVID-19 pandemicand build our economy," he said.

Green Team grants are given to non-profit organizations and municipal governments to hire youth and young adults to work on community projects from May to August.

These organizationsmust comply with physical distancing requirements and practices.

The West End Business Improvement Zone welcomes the announcement.

Its Urban Green team cleans up litter, removes graffiti and even sweeps streets.

"We're happy to really be keeping the West Endlooking its best," said executive director Joe Kornelsen.

"We've been implementing all kinds of programs to support our local business community, and we're happy that we're going to be able to beautify the neighbourhood as well with this funding from the province."

He says the extra money will make it easier for the organization to hire summer workers.

Funding for Green Teamswas about $5 million last year.

Pallister also provided an update on existing measures the province has taken.

More than 1,800 small businesses have takenloans of $6,000 each, totalling about $11 million, he said.

"This is critical. These are small businesses that are the backbone of our economy," Pallister said

About 300 employers havesigned up for the summer student jobs program.

Pallister was asked about plans to temporarily lay off 600 to 700 Manitoba Hydro workers as early as this week as the Crown corporation works to find cost savings mandated by the provincial government.

The corporation's debt will pile up if these cost-saving measures aren't taken and there's work that isn't needed right now because of the pandemic, he said.

"Projects are on hold or delayed as a consequence of the pandemic. The degree of work is less than it's been for a long time with Hydro," he said.

"We can't just borrow our way out of the pandemic."

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