Premier Honourable Gary Doer

Minister of Finance Honourable Gregory Selinger

Governing Party New Democratic Party

Capital City Winnipeg

Population (July 1, 2005) 1,177,600

Gross Domestic Product (2005p) $42 billion

Largest Industry: Manufacturing, 13% of GDP ($13.0 billion shipments)

Farm Cash Receipts: $3.7 billion (Principally hogs, cattle, oilseeds, wheat)

Mineral Production: $1.5 billion (Principally nickel, oil, zinc and copper)

Hydro-Electricity Sales: $1.8 billion

Foreign Merchandise Exports: $9.9 billion (USA, 76%; Japan, 5%; China, 3%)

Manitoba will lead the country in capital investment growth in 2006. With private investment expected to increase at double the national rate this year, Manitoba is the only province in Canada to post 15 consecutive years of private investment growth. Consumers are doing their part – Manitoba has had one of the strongest increases in housing investment and retail sales over the past five years and this robust growth is expected to continue into 2006. What’s behind the confidence in our province? Underlying this growth is a unique combination of factors that we call The Manitoba Advantage:

+ A diverse economy, rich in natural resources, combined with a significant manufacturing sector and large services sector

+ Competitive business costs, including low construction costs, affordable taxes and attractive operating expenses - with the lowest electricity rates in North America

+ A well-educated, productive and multi-lingual labour force

+ A strong system of public education facilities, including five universities

+ An extensive and rapidly growing network of research facilities in key sectors like agri-foods, biotechnology, engineering and communications

+ Excellent communications infrastructure and transportation links by road, rail, air and sea

+ Attractive living costs, including reasonable housing costs, affordable taxes and some of the lowest auto insurance rates in Canada

+ Clean, uncongested communities and an unblemished natural environment.

A great place to invest… and a great place to live! We’re investing in our future— come join in our success!