Manitoba’s health-care system a top priority in April 12 budget: finance minister
Posted March 23, 2022 10:43 am.
Last Updated March 23, 2022 10:45 am.
Reinforcing Manitoba’s health-care system will be one of the government’s top priorities in the provincial budget that will be tabled next month.
The Progressive Conservatives’ April 12 budget will be the first since Heather Stefanson became premier in October.
An online survey of more than 7,400 people as part of the government’s “budget consultation process” revealed health care was top of mind for Manitobans. More than 80 per cent of respondents said it needed to be the government’s most pressing issue.
This comes as Doctors Manitoba released updated information Tuesday regarding the province’s surgery backlog. The group estimates the backlog is at an all-time provincial high.
Other areas of emphasis for the government in the spring budget will be affordability, investing in communities, protecting the environment, and reinvigorating the economy.
The PCs say more than 51,000 Manitobans took part in the consultation process leading up to the budget – online, in three telephone town halls, virtual meetings and emailed or written submissions.
The province says engagement in that process increased from the year before.
“We appreciate the ideas they shared through provincial budget consultations and the insights they shared about the issues that are most important to them as we emerge from the pandemic together,” said Finance Minister Cameron Friesen.
The other issues important to Manitobans according to the online survey were improving education, increasing mental health and addictions support, investing in infrastructure and addressing the labour shortage.
