Brandon is about to be overrun with New Democrats.

About 400 Manitoba's NDPers are heading into the Wheat City this weekend for the party's annual general meeting.

Provincial secretary Sonia Kowalewich said 257 resolutions have been put forward for delegates to debate, but they have been prioritized and it's not likely they will all get on to the table.

One of those unlikely to be raised is the call for a new provincial flag. Members from the NDP's Riel constituency association in south Winnipeg put forth the resolution, saying Manitoba's present flag is an outdated symbol of British colonialism.

But Kowalewich said party members must focus on the most pressing issues, such as urging their leadership, led by Premier Gary Doer, to continue with its nearly decade-long tuition freeze; calling for additional support for efforts to have the boreal forest on the east side of the province declared a UNESCO heritage site, and urging investment in social housing.

Other topics include calling for two lanes of traffic to be kept open during the upcoming 16-month construction project on the Disraeli Freeway bridge.

Another priority is to demand that in the face of tough economic times, the provincial government resist the temptation to cut social and education programs as governments did in the 1990s.

Party to celebrate its past

But Kowalewich said NDPers will also celebrate contributions the party has made, starting with the province's first NDP government led by Ed Schreyer back in 1969.

"We're certainly going to spend a little bit of time looking at all the of the positive policies that have been brought in through subsequent NDP governments, [such as] Autopac car insurance, home care, many advances in health care, pay equity for women," she said.

Schreyer is not expected at the meeting, she said. But he and Howard Pawley, another former NDP premier, will be attending the celebrations the party will mount in June for the actual anniversary of Manitoba's first NDP government.

The AGM is being held at the Keystone Centre. Doer will give a speech in the morning and federal NDP leader Jack Layton will talk in the afternoon.