Manitoba aims to double the annual fertility tax credit

Wab Kinew spent the day at a fertility clinic touting his government’s plan to double the annual fertility tax credit, a day after presenting his first budget as premier.

The move will see the maximum annual credit amount go up from $8,000 to $16,000.

“Your decision to start a family should be based on what is in your heart not what’s in your bank account,” said Kinew.

Budget 2024 doubles the annual cost of treatment Manitobans can claim from $20,000 to $40,000, with the tax credit covering 40 per cent.

“We just announced our budget yesterday, I’ve already heard from families, from folks, from women who are eager to access this opportunity,” said Health, Seniors, and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara.

Dr. Gordon McTavish the medical director at Heartland Fertility Clinic says the clinic is anticipating doing 450 to 500 IVF cycles this year, with that number expected to grow.

“We’ve gone from a clinic that is about 6,500 sq. ft. that just couldn’t meet up to the demands and have moved to a clinic that is about 15,000 sq. ft. hoping to achieve the goals that parents are wanting,” said Dr. McTavish.

Dr. McTavish says an IVF cycle could range from $11,000 to $20,000, with the average drug cost to stimulate eggs ranging from $4,000 to $6,000 or even more.

“The emotional complexity of infertility was compounded by the financial stress of paying for both the fertility treatments themselves and the prescription medications that came along with it,” said Kate McIntyre, who accessed fertility treatment.

Asagwara says Manitoba’s credit can be layered on top of federal initiatives on fertility.