The Wrap: Manitoba Budget 2024
How the provincial government plans to spend our money — and what it means for your pocketbook.

Good evening. Here’s a look at what our newsroom has been working on today:

'We will put Manitoba on a positive path forward'

Manitoba’s NDP government tabled its first budget since winning last October’s provincial election.

The government is vowing to hire 1,000 new front line health-care workers this year while offering up to $5,000 in tax breaks to families and an extension of the fuel-tax holiday.

The 2024 provincial budget released Tuesday mirrors the party’s key promises from last year’s election, focusing largely on efforts to shore up the ailing health-care system and ease the cost-of-living crisis, while running a deficit of nearly $800 million.

Chris Kitching and Carol Sanders:

‘High-risk, high-reward budget’

Province tackles health care woes while battling massive deficit Read More

Chris Kitching:

Take your pick: budget has something for everyone

The NDP is following through on some of its key election promises and laying the groundwork for loftier or long-term ambition in its first budget. The 2024 fiscal plan, revealed Tuesday, contains a... Read More

Katrina Clarke:

Supervised drug site not on agenda for 2024: premier

The provincial government won’t open a supervised consumption site in Winnipeg this year, Premier Wab Kinew said Tuesday, as he argued the province needs time to get it right. Read More

Julia-Simone Rutgers:

NDP delivering on campaign’s EV, heating pledges but climate-plan questions remain

The NDP government made good on an election promise Tuesday, as millions of dollars in rebates for new and used electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids was announced as part of the provincial budget. ... Read More

Savour Manitoba Spring issue cover featuring colourful mixed drinks on a table.

Budget hot takes

The province’s projected increase in its net summary debt is significant, Tom Brodbeck explains, because the higher the debt, the more money the government spends to service that debt and the less resources there are available for front-line services.

Dan Lett looks at how the NDP government has taken two of the hallmark accomplishments of the former Progressive Conservative government — changes to the income tax system and the education property tax rebate — and reimagined them.

And we give you a sample of reaction to the budget from stakeholders, opinion leaders and ordinary Manitobans.

Tom Brodbeck:

Borrowing from our future: NDP budget drives up debt

The most important number in the NDP’s first budget unveiled Tuesday is not how much money the government plans to spend on health care, education and family services. It’s the one that shows how much debt the government is taking on to pay for all of those things. Read More

Dan Lett:

In budget, Manitoba premier, finance minister unveil a more progressive lobster trap

It is one of the first rules of governing: when a new government is elected, it must never eliminate a tax cut brought in by a predecessor, even if that tax cut was a bad idea and the revenue is needed for more worthy causes. Read More

Katie May and Katrina Clarke:

Reaction pours in to NDP’s first budget

The Kinew government's first budget was delivered on Tuesday, with an array of new spending and rebates for Manitobans. The Free Press has compiled reaction to the NDP's first fiscal plan. Chuck D... Read More