Government of Manitoba/ This is the current Progressive Conservative government’s seventh budget, and its first under the leadership of Premier Heather Stefanson.
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson told reporters on Tuesday the province can reduce costs for Manitobans while at the same time increasing spending to tackle problems like the surgical and diagnostic backlog. (Fernand Detillieux/CBC)
Manitoba’s latest provincial budget continues the Progressive Conservative government’s efforts to claw out of the fiscal hole created by the COVID-19 pandemic, while trying to address ongoing pressures on the health system and the economy.
The government’s 2022-23 spending plan, announced Tuesday, slashes the deficit by more than $1 billion compared to last year, while forging ahead with an aggressive push to reduce taxes, including a plan to eventually eliminate the education property tax.
Spending increases for most departments are moderate.
Speaking to reporters before presenting the budget at the legislature, Finance Minister Cameron Friesen was asked why the province is pursuing its efforts to cut taxes, even as the province faces pressure from the pandemic, inflation and global uncertainty caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
