Finance minister tells business community budget ‘resonates with Manitoba’

Federal Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne was in Winnipeg on Friday to discuss the latest federal budget and how it impacts Manitoba with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.

About 200 members of Winnipeg’s business community attended the event, held at the Inn at the Forks. The visit came a few days after the approval of the budget, titled Canada Strong.

“The spirit of Manitoba is vibrating towards this budget,” Champagne said during the armchair discussion hosted by chamber president Loren Remillard.

Speaking with journalists afterward, Champagne said he met with Premier Wab Kinew before the event. The first thing they discussed was the productivity super-deduction, a set of enhanced tax incentives meant to boost productivity and attract investment, he said.

“That means that it resonates with Manitoba,” Champagne said.

The federal government’s commitments to the Port of Churchill Plus project, its investment in housing and its commitment to improving the country’s trade corridors also speak to Manitobans, he added.

“The trade corridor is essential,” Champagne said. “Winnipeg is at the centre — north, south, east, west. So when you’re talking about more fluidity in the trade corridor, it’s obviously something positive for Manitoba.”

During the discussion, Champagne called the new budget “an investment budget” and repeatedly stated his belief Canada is well-positioned moving forward.

“Let’s seize the moment. Let’s be ambitious. And let’s build a Canada we can all be proud (of) … I’m very confident we can do that together,” he said.

aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca