It has been a busy start to the spring here in Transcona, and I’m proud to share that on March 24, our NDP government brought forward Budget 2026: Good Jobs. Lower Costs. Better Health Care.

This budget reflects what I hear every day from folks in our community. People want a strong health-care system, affordable everyday costs, and opportunities to build a good life right here in Transcona.

As a former school vice-principal, I know first-hand that one of the best investments we can make is in our young people and in our classrooms. That is why I am especially proud that this budget includes $80 million in new funding for schools. For the third year in a row, school funding is increasing above the rate of inflation, bringing the total to nearly $2 billion for the 2026 and 2027 school year. These investments support classrooms, technical vocational education, and school infrastructure.

We are also continuing to strengthen the universal school nutrition program, which provided more than 30 million meals and snacks to students last year. Through Nello’s Law, we’re protecting this program for years to come so that no child has to try to learn on an empty stomach.

The Manitoba NDP government’s latest budget falls short of what families in the Roblin constituency need and deserve. Despite its higher spending (and reliance on increased tax revenue and federal transfers), it misses key priorities that matter to our communities.

One of the most glaring omissions is the lack of new child-care spaces in Charleswood and Headingley. Families in our growing communities continue to face long wait-lists and limited options, making it difficult for parents to fully participate in the workforce. Accessible, reliable child care is not a luxury; it is essential infrastructure for a healthy economy. Yet this budget offers no meaningful expansion where it is clearly needed.

Equally disappointing is the absence of any commitment to the Phoenix School expansion and renovation project. This has been the school division’s top capital priority for years; an approved school expansion project was “deferred” by the current government shortly after it took office. Students are learning in overcrowded conditions, and staff are doing their best in facilities that are no longer adequate. Investing in education means more than rhetoric – it requires concrete action to ensure students have safe, modern learning environments. This budget simply does not deliver on that front.

Perhaps most concerning, however, is the government’s failure to address affordability in a meaningful way. Families across Roblin are feeling the strain of rising costs – groceries, housing, fuel, and everyday essentials continue to climb. The measures proposed by the NDP fall short of providing broad, lasting relief. There is little in this budget that will make a tangible difference for households trying to balance their monthly bills.