The executive director of the Manitoba Child Care Association says yesterday's Throne Speech contains things to be encouraged by and there are some things to be worried about.

On the worried end, Pat Wege wonders about the desire to eliminate red tape.

"It's hard to know if they mean they're going to reduce the legislation that is in place and has been for many decades now to ensure minimum standards of quality child care," says Wege.

The province says it will be launching a new Early Learning and Child Care strategy, and it says it will introduce new incentives for private investments in child care spaces.

Wege says private child care spaces tend to be more expensive.

Families minister Scott Fielding says the government wants to encourage a balanced approach. As for red tape, he says they won't be eliminating anything to do with safety; an example of what they're looking at, he says, is streamlining the process for renewal.

Josh Brandon of Make Poverty History Manitoba was pleased an affordable housing strategy was mentioned in yesterday's Throne Speech, as well as support for mental health and addictions, however he says he's concerned there was no mention of income support for people who depend on social assistance and minimum wage. Brandon wants the provincial government to conduct a poverty reduction strategy as soon as possible, and he says it has to be a comprehensive strategy.