The Province of Manitoba is releasing its budget to the public after waiting an additional week due to NDP opposition.

In today's announcement of the budget, Finance Minister Scott Fielding is announcing funds to assist the education, medical, and crime prevention sectors.

“In just four years, Manitoba has made tremendous progress on the road to recovery,” Fielding says. “Budget 2020 continues the hard work by focusing on the issues that matter most to Manitobans by providing better services, protecting our environment, making our communities stronger and safer, making life more affordable, and building a better, brighter and more prosperous future for all Manitobans and their families.”

 

PST Reduction

The implementation of a one per cent PST tax cut will be starting on July 1, 2020. Starting on Canada Day, PST will be six per cent.

In 2019 the province also cut taxes by one percent. The province says that in combination with the cuts this year and last year, it is the largest tax cut the province has ever seen in two year's time.

Green Levy

The Green Levy will charge $25 per tonne of carbon emissions. 

Fielding says the Green Levy "will cost Manitoba families and businesses less than the federal carbon tax plan and will be more effective in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions."

The Green Levy will be implemented on July 1, 2020.

 

Healthcare

The province is committing to invest in more clinical and preventative services. $250 million will be dedicated to "enable patients to access the health care they need closer to home."

Additionally, $2 million will be dedicated to mental illness and addiction treatments and $10 million for joint replacement and cataract surgeries.

 

Education

Public school divisions will receive a combined total of $1.3 billion in grants.

The province plans to also create 4,425 new classroom spaces by the end of the fiscal year and adding $4.8-million to the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Program for post-secondary students.

 

Crime Prevention

An investment of $5 million is being used to aid the fight against crime and gang activity in the province as well as adding an additional 27 officers to the provincial police service. 

The province is also giving $561,000 in grants to support community projects delivering services to victims of crime.