Adrien Sala, Manitoba’s Finance Minister, revealed details of Budget 2024 at the Legislature on April 2. Despite the projected deficit of almost $2 billion at the end of this year’s first quarter, the annual budget announcement was rife with promises of tax cuts, rebates, and healthcare spending.
“This budget gives Manitobans 21 new ways to save,” Sala told the assembly. “A broad middle-class tax cut, a $1,500 tax credit for homeowners, and no school property taxes for families that need the most help.”
Families and Low- to Mid-Income Earners
Middle-income earners will see an increase to both the personal income tax bracket threshold and the basic personal amount which a person can earn before paying income tax.
Further to that, school taxes will be eliminated on property tax bills for just over 34 percent of the province’s homeowners. Residents with higher property assessments and commercial property owners will be making up for much of that tax shift.
“Manitoba has one of the highest rates of child poverty and child mortality in the country,” said Sala. “We’re going to do something about that.”
To help reverse that statistic, prenatal benefits will double over last year, making it the highest in Canada. At the same time, supports will increase for low-income renters and those receiving Employment and Income Assistance (EIA).
According to Sala, the government’s goal is to end chronic homelessness in two terms of office. This will start with a $116 million investment into affordable housing options in this budget. This is 30 percent more than last year, Sala says.
General Savings
Parents with children in daycare will soon benefit from the NDP’s decision to legislate a $10 per day childcare fee every day of the year. Going forward, prescription birth control will be free.
All drivers will appreciate a five percent savings on their car insurance and the carbon tax freeze will continue for an additional three months, helping people save an additional 14 percent at the pumps until the end of September.
Rebates are in store for those looking to purchase new or used electric vehicles (EV) or hybrid plug-ins.
In an effort to help curb crime, families and businesses will be eligible for a $300 security camera rebate.
New Spending
Budget 2024 will also pave the way for an additional $13.7 million in policing costs over last year and another $6.3 million will be spent on public safety initiatives.
Keeping good on their election promise, $20 million has been set aside to search the Prairie Green Landfill for three murdered and missing Indigenous women believed to be buried there.
“Manitobans don’t leave anyone behind,” Sala said. “This budget has the funds to search the landfill.”
Jobs and job training are a central focus, as $4 million in funding is earmarked for the Indigenous Economic Development Fund (IEDF) to support Indigenous business owners, entrepreneurs, and organizations.
Another $45 million will help support postsecondary students and apprentices in order to grow the skilled labour force.
“We’re putting people to work with good jobs that pay the bills,” Sala said. “We’ll make it easier for more Manitobans to join the workforce, join a union, and join the middle class. We’re banning replacement workers because no one should be able to take your job when you’re fighting for better pay and more respect.”
Healthcare
Rebuilding the ailing healthcare system is front and centre in this year’s budget as well. A total of $310 million in funding has been designated for retention, recruitment, and training to address healthcare staffing shortages.
As well, it means 1,000 new healthcare hires including 100 doctors, 210 nurses, 90 paramedics, and 600 healthcare aides.
An addition, $635 million will be invested in capital projects for the health sector, like the return of the Victoria Hospital ER and the Eriksdale ER. Other projects will include expansion, improvement, or creation of new hospital buildings, electronic medical records, and better equipment.
“We’ve inherited a historic deficit,” Sala said. “We’re starting with a healthcare system that’s been broken by seven years of cuts and chaos. We’re coming out of years of rising costs and people are struggling. There are those who will say this budget is too ambitious, but it’s for those reasons it needs to be ambitious. We can fix healthcare and make life more affordable, and we can do it while charting a path back to balance in four years. And if anyone tries to tell you it can’t be done, we’re going to prove them wrong. Just watch us!”
