Finance minister’s budget preview focuses on little feet

Manitoba’s finance minister — who had bags of children’s shoes in tow — announced Friday that families and affordability measures would feature prominently in Tuesday’s budget.

Adrien Sala went to Linwood Child Centre, his children’s former daycare, to announce that 2,000 childcare spaces would open within the province.

Tuesday’s budget will also include a 2.9 per cent increase to wages paid to early childhood educators as of September.

“We’re looking to make sure that we invest in you guys, our next generation,” Sala said, steps from children at Linwood.

“Investing in you is one of the most important investments we can make for the future of our province.”

The government is up against a $1.6-billion deficit in the 2025-26 fiscal year, which ends March 31.

Sala said his party will deliver on their promise to balance the budget by fiscal 2027-28. The NDP must balance the budget by October 2027, which is when the next election is to be held.

“We remain on track,” Sala said. “This upcoming year — 2026-27 — we’re gonna show Manitobans the next step we’re taking in getting to that balanced budget target.”

Manitoba has about 3,923 early childhood educators, a provincial government spokesperson said. The new wage increase will cost about $14.3 million.

Jodie Kehl, the executive director of the provincial child care association, called the raise “great news on a Friday afternoon.”

“One of the best ways to counteract a deficit in the government is to promote economic growth,” she said. “Investing in early years is one of the best ways to increase economic growth.”

The wait for child care can still take up to six years, Kehl said. She welcomed the 2,000 new spaces, noting the announcement adds to the province’s target of 23,000 new spots.

The target, made with the federal government in 2021, was initially meant to be reached this March. The deadline has been extended by five years, to March 31, 2031.

Manitoba must focus on retaining early childhood educators, Kehl said: “Open spaces will be empty spaces if there’s not enough early childhood educators to provide high-quality programs.”

Tory education critic Wayne Ewasko said the wage increase builds on work the Progressive Conservatives did before they lost power in October 2023.

The former education minister cemented money from Ottawa through the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. The PCs moved major wage grids from roughly $14 per hour to about $24.80, Ewasko said.

“How else do you attract good quality people to these professions, especially when they’re taking care of our kids, without raising wages?” he said.

“(Friday’s) announcement… is a good move. The money was there. I’m glad that the minister is moving forward on our long-term plan to make sure early childhood educators are paid what they deserve.”

The Ottawa-Manitoba agreement includes roughly $1.9 billion over the next five years for early learning and child care. Friday’s announcement builds on the $5 per hour increase to early childhood educator wages that took effect in May 2025.

Affordability, health care — including money for nurse training and cardiac care at St. Boniface Hospital — and investments to “reduce some pressures” related to education property taxes will be covered in Tuesday’s budget, the government has said.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com