The stare-down at the Manitoba legislature is over--the governing New Democrats and the opposition parties hammered out a deal Tuesday that will see the spring legislature session end with a whimper rather than a great big bang.

Deputy Government Houses Leader Dave Chomiak said the deal means all government bills introduced this session will pass by Thursday when the houses breaks for the summer. MLAs resume sitting Nov. 16.

That date will also include Premier Greg Selinger's last throne speech, outlining the government's financial and policy plan, before Manitobans head to the polls Oct. 4, 2011.

Chomiak said the saw-off between the parties still allows the opposition enough time to oppose without going late into the night.

Late last week there were about 30 government bills stalled in a holding pattern as Progressive Conservatives and Liberals used various delay tactics to see only one go to royal assent--Bill 31, The Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act (BITSA). It amends the balanced-budget law to allow government to run four consecutive deficits before it's required to post a surplus.

Tory Leader Hugh McFadyen said the deal benefits the Progressive Conservatives in that they get several committee meetings moved up to the fall where they can grill the government over its spending and its handling of Manitoba Hydro.

Meanwhile, Premier Greg Selinger, attending the Western Premiers Conference in Vancouver, said the top item is Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta teaming up to help rain-soaked farmers, some who are into their third year of the prairie wet cycle.

Selinger said the premiers also discussed a "green jobs agenda" where the provinces would promote more employment programs, such as in geothermal, to get more people trained in various areas that promote clean energy and conservation.