In the spirit of working together

Fort Rouge

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/05/2024 (600 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As the sun comes out and snow melts, it’s time to do a bit of spring cleaning – to get out in the yard, rake the lawn, and look forward to the future.

It’s not just something we do by ourselves, it something we take on as a community. We saw this recently with the incredible effort of so many who joined the South Osborne Clean Up. I want to thank local business leaders, organizers and neighbours who participated for working together to make life better in our community. This spirit of working together is how we help each other and those who need it most.

Just a few weeks ago, our government introduced our first budget, to do exactly that.

This budget is directly informed by people like you. It is a product of stories we heard, the ideas you shared with us, and the tough conversations you were willing to have. In everything we heard from you, there was a common thread. There was a desire for change, to help more people in our province.

That’s what our budget aims to do.

We heard from health-care workers, who shared their struggles to deliver care at the bedside and on the front lines. We listened and we’re taking action — hiring 1,000 new staff and expanding health care centres and hospitals across Manitoba.

We listened to families who shared difficult stories of having to pinch pennies, at home, at the grocery store and at the pump. In a place like Manitoba, everyone should be able to build a good life. That’s why, in our budget we are continuing to lower costs for you and your family. We’re extending the cut to the gas tax, we’re giving every homeowner a $1,500 tax credit and we’ve introduced 21 new ways for people to save.

We’ve heard from advocates, like the hardworking leaders right here in Lord Roberts, Osborne Village and Riverview, who want better for our relatives struggling with homelessness. Who, like so many of us, know we can do more for Manitobans forced to sleep in bus shelters, under bridges and in tents. Our budget is delivering help right away — with over $116 million for social housing and programming so we can end chronic homelessness in our province, together.

Budget 2024 charts a path forward. It’s a path we will travel together as one people and one Manitoba. Together, we rolled up our sleeves and got our hands into the work that needed to be done. And our work is only just beginning.

If you want to connect with us about our life here in Fort Rouge, you can find us at 2-565 Osborne Street, call us at 204-615-1922, or email me at wab.kinew@yourmanitoba.ca