Budget 2025 focuses on ‘building’ Manitoba

The Manitoba government’s budget is one it says puts the province and country first.

Manitoba is not backing down. That was the message delivered on Thursday afternoon in the Legislature by Finance Minister Adrien Sala as he said Budget 2025 is one that will be focused on “building one Manitoba” in the face of historic times in Canada.

“As Manitobans we are proud of who we are. We are proud to be Canadian. I’m delivering this budget at a pivotal moment in our great nation’s history,” said Sala. “Donald Trump has threatened our sovereignty and our economy. This threat is unjustified. This threat is a tax on working people.” 

Sala says the tariffs put in place by the Trump administration will have an effect across the province and hurts regular people working in manufacturing in the Pembina Valley, at the Nickel mine in Thompson and at the steel mill in Selkirk, saying: “We know this tax will harm regular people on both sides of the border.” 

“Here in Manitoba, our team will always fight to lower costs for families,” he said. “We did it when the previous government raised rents and Hydro rates and that is what we were elected to do before Trump, now, and long after he’s gone.” 

Sala says the budget “meets the moment” with a record $3.7 billion in capital projects to put people in the province to work while protecting Manitoba’s economy. 

“We’re building schools, emergency rooms and personal care homes,” said Sala. “We’re building highways and bridges. Channels and airports. The only thing we’re tearing down, Honorable Speaker, are trade barriers between provinces.”

Budget documents released Thursday indicated the province plans to invest $770 million to recruit nurses and retain frontline healthcare workers and build three new personal care homes in Transcona, Lac du Bonnet, and Arborg. Sala said the province now has a “solid foundation” of staff to start building up the system. 

“The previous government cut and cut and cut. They fired nurses. They disrespected doctors and they ignored healthcare workers. We said we’d be different and we are,” he said. 

The Finance Minister also said the Manitoba Government will be making Plan B available as part of its free birth control program and will be spending money to ensure safe access to abortion in Manitoba, saying: “On this side of the border, on this side of the house, we believe in a woman’s right to choose.”

The government also outlined how it’s working to make life more affordable for Manitobans, saying they will increase the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit by $100 to $1,600 annually while committing $30 million a year in permanent funding for the Universal School Food Program while offering one year of free parks entry across Manitoba. 

Sala says the tariff threats from both the U.S. and China are real and says the investment will be focusing on supporting Manitoban and Canadian companies, cutting electrical vehicle rebates for Teslas and for vehicles manufactured in China.

“Our government is building Manitoba’s economy and building good jobs,” saying the investment will build the province and country, creating nearly 18,000 new jobs on the infrastructure front, as the province is increasing spending, with Phase 2 of Winnipeg’s North End Water Treatment Plant slated to get $414 million from the province. 

Manitoba Hydro will also be seeing an investment of roughly $881 million to upgrade infrastructure while highways will see roughly $800 in spending for things like the twinning Highway 1 East, building the Lake St. Martin and Lake Manitoba outlet channels and a new interchange on the Perimeter Highway. 

Sala says the budget is being delivered at a pivotal moment in Canada’s history, saying the nation’s strongest partnership is being “tested like never before” and Manitoba is ready. 

“This is a difficult challenge for Manitoba and Canada, but this is also a moment of great opportunity,” said Sala. 

“No longer will Manitobans and Canadians allow forces outside of our control to determine our future. No longer will we let our future rest in someone else’s hands. We have to build it ourselves, true north, strong and free. We are building one Manitoba together, so let’s get building.”

Deficit pushing $800 million as budget outlined

Wage earners will feel an impact. Starting this year, income tax brackets and the basic personal exemption will be frozen and no longer rise with inflation. Someone earning more than $100,000 a year is expected to pay an extra $87 this year. 

The budget projects a deficit of $794 million this year on total spending of $25.8 billion. If U.S. tariffs are sustained, hundreds of millions of dollars in support for businesses and agricultural producers would be offered, driving the deficit to almost $1.9 billion.

There were few details Thursday, but the government said aid could include loans and money for worker retraining.

Sala said the government remains committed to balancing the budget before the next election, expected in 2027. This year’s projected deficit is already well above the amount contained in last year’s long-term forecast.

The Opposition Progressive Conservatives criticized the $100 increase to the education property tax credit, saying it comes at a time when homeowners are facing property tax increases of several hundred dollars or more.

“This does not make a dent for a lot of Winnipeggers,” Tory finance critic Lauren Stone said.

“Manitobans need relief today. I’m incredibly disappointed that we did not see a concrete actionable trade strategy for Manitoba, we haven’t seen really an economic strategy coming from this NDP government,” she said.

The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce said it welcomes the cut to the payroll tax but would like to see more details on what support the province will offer if tariffs are sustained.

“Businesses are looking for specific answers,” group president Chuck Davidson said.

“If you’re in manufacturing, if you’re in agriculture, you know that the tariffs are already having an impact on you.”

MAHCP says hiring plan still missing

A statement from the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals indicated the budget acknowledges the need for more allied health professionals, with outlined investments in paramedic, lab and x-ray technician training “good and overdue news” but there is still more work to be done.

“Manitoba still lacks a comprehensive allied health workforce plan, which is holding our province back,” said Jason Linklater, the association’s president, in the statement.

He noted while elements of a plan were mentioned in Budget 2025, like dedicated staff positions to oversee health retention and recruitment efforts, there needs to be more extensive plans to keep specialized staff, develop more training opportunities and make sure the province is an attractive place to work in terms of both wages and a healthy work culture. 

Labour says focus on infrastructure important 

The Manitoba Federation of Labour acknowledging while more work needs to be done on the healthcare front, the budget acknowledges workers on the frontline, saying given the looming threats from the Trump administration, its focus on the local economy is the right one. 

“The MFL was encouraged to hear the budget’s promise of a Manitoba Jobs Agreement to ensure that, when Manitoba taxpayers are paying for critical infrastructure projects, the money goes towards hiring Manitobans first,” said Manitoba Federation of Labour President, Kevin Rebeck in a news release. 

He says it will “end the scourge” of out-of-province licence plates at construction sites across Manitoba, a trend that grew under previous PC governments. 

“A key part of ‘Trump-proofing’ our economy is helping young Manitobans build their futures right here at home,” he said. “This budget’s increased investments in training will help to prepare Manitobans for rewarding careers in their home province while helping to address Manitoba’s skilled trades shortage.”

SCO says First Nations must be engaged

The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) indicated in a news release the capital investment of $3.7 billion will directly affect several member nations and the work of the SCO. 

“While I understand and even empathize with the provincial government given the current economic strains the Trump administration’s tariff threats are putting on their fiscal bottom line, that in no way excuses them from meeting their obligations to the first peoples of this land,” stated SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels in a news release. 

“Together we can emerge from this existential threat to the economy of Manitoba. By engaging in respectful and productive dialogue, we can ensure that First Nations are not left behind at this critical time.”

Daniels said the creation of housing continues to be the SCO’s focus and it welcomes outlined funding in the form of $7 million to help build more than 600 affordable housing units and a $7 million commitment to end chronic homelessness. 

The SCO news release said the organization also welcomes $4 million for the creation of the Health Care Centre of Excellence as part of the redevelopment of Portage Place in downtown Winnipeg. 

“Along with our transformative Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn project in the former Hudson’s Bay building, this investment will further our promise to revitalize downtown Winnipeg,” continued Grand Chief Daniels in the release. “First Nations are at the forefront of so many critical projects in Manitoba’s capital city, and I am pleased to see our provincial partners recognizing that indisputable fact.”