A new legislative session will kickoff today in Manitoba. The Manitoba government is planning to open the fourth session of the 42nd legislature this afternoon with the reading of the speech from the throne by Lieutenant Governor Janice Filmon.

"It is really good to be getting into the legislature," says Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen.

As House Leader and a Minister, Goertzen says he is at the legislative building nearly every day anyway. But, he says the chamber itself has not sat for a few weeks and he looks forward to sitting again.

"We'll have most of the MLA's back in person, but not all of them, so not quite normal yet, but a lot closer than we were last year," he explains. "So that's really positive that we're kind of returning more to a traditional pattern now in the legislature."

The speech from the throne will signal the start of the new legislative session and outline what the government, led by Premier Heather Stefanson, expects to achieve during the session, which is scheduled to rise December 2.

"The Premier has already indicated that there will be significant discussion about health care and reducing the surgical backlogs that have come about as a result of COVID-19," notes Goertzen. "(And) looking at how we can continue to grow the economy coming through the pandemic."

According to Goertzen, the speech from the throne is really a roadmap outlining the government's intentions. He notes it is usually broad and then more details are rolled out in the weeks after, particularly in spring when the budget is introduced.

Goertzen says there will certainly be bills introduced, noting there has already been some discussion concerning a family maintenance bill that needs to be brought forward. He notes traditionally this is not the time of year that a lot of bills get debated. That is more likely to happen in spring, especially considering the relatively short period of time that MLAs will be sitting before Christmas.

Yet, Goertzen says it is that debate and that banter with the other politicians that have become his most favourite parts of the job.

"I really do like that, there's some really good opportunity to hear from other MLAs both in your own party and in other parties because there is no party that has a monopoly on good ideas," suggests Goertzen. "So I do enjoy the legislature, that's probably why I've been House Leader for probably close to 15 years now."

Meanwhile, Goertzen says we should soon see a policy with regards to vaccine requirements for all those entering the Manitoba legislative building. He notes in the last session already they came to an agreement that all MLA's and staff inside the chamber would need to be vaccinated.