Winnipeg releases 2026 preliminary budget

The City of Winnipeg has released its 2026 preliminary budget, which includes $1.2 billion in capital spending, $547 million of that earmarked for phase three of the North End Sewage Treatment Plant upgrades.

The $1.2-billion capital budget represents a 75 per cent increase from $677 million in 2025, largely due to the sewage-plant investment, which will cover only a third of phase three. Although the city has yet to secure provincial and federal funding for the remaining cost, Gillingham said he’s confident that support will come.

“Just yesterday we released the economic impact of the North End plant, and that shows a significant return on investment for both the federal and provincial governments,” said Gillingham. “I don’t think any provincial government or federal government would want to see a city have to freeze development of housing or freeze business growth. It would be devastating not only to the City of Winnipeg, but to senior levels of government as well.”

The 2026 capital investments are part of a broader six-year, $3.8-billion capital investment plan, the largest the city has ever undertaken.

“$1.1 billion for regional and local road renewal, the largest road program the city has ever undertaken, and $239 million to purchase new transit buses and modernize the fleet,” said Jeff Browaty, chair of the standing policy committee on finance and economic development.

For 2026 specifically, the budget includes $100 million for new buses and $156 million for road renewals.

“I ask you to be patient in 2026. We need to do this road work — these are critical investments that ultimately make a difference in our infrastructure. So there will be a lot of road work in each of the next several years,” said Gillingham.

Winnipeggers can also expect a 2.8 per cent increase in water and sewage rates, along with a 3.5 per cent property-tax increase, costing the average household about $75 more per year.

“We’re going to be at 3.5. We need to maintain affordability for Winnipeggers. We’re working very hard as a council to do that, and a 3.5 per cent property tax increase was one of the goals to maintain affordability,” said Gillingham.

The city is asking for public feedback. A series of meetings will be held in the coming weeks before the 2026 budget goes before city council for a final vote in mid-December.