Health care funding and COVID-19 inquiry among NDP election platform items

Manitoba New Democrats are promising a balanced budget, more money for health care, and an inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic if they win Tuesday’s provincial election.

The NDP has released its full platform, with costs including more than $120 million a year to hire more health-care workers.

There are also millions of dollars promised to reduce class sizes in schools, address homelessness and freeze hydroelectricity rates for one year.

The platform also includes $1.6 million over four years for an inquiry into the province’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew says the province can afford the new spending and still move to a balanced budget by using much of the money the Tory government has set aside for unexpected costs this year.

The NDP platform calls for smaller deficits each year until 2027, when it outlines a small $1 million surplus.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28, 2023.