January 20, 2003

Manitoba Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Jean Friesen today announced a final payment for 2002-03 of $15.9 million to the City of Winnipeg which includes support for transit, public safety, infrastructure and other municipal services. This specific funding is only one component of the overall provincial support to Winnipeg and its citizens.

"Provincial funding for Winnipeg's priorities and support for key Winnipeg agencies and organizations reflects our commitment to work in partnership with the civic government," said Friesen. "Enhanced powers and flexibility provided in the new City of Winnipeg Charter will also help to build a strong and productive capital city for all Manitobans."

This final payment also includes a $3.5 million strategic allocation to support the city in its efforts to deliver transit, public safety and recreation services to the citizens of Winnipeg. This special allocation will provide $2.4 million for Winnipeg Transit, $800,000 for the city's Fire/Arson Investigation Unit and $300,000 for minor capital projects at the city's indoor pools. The payment also includes $12.4 million to assist the city in delivering ongoing municipal services.

The City of Winnipeg received a total of $103.6 million from the province in 2002-03. The province supports the city through:

• Provincial Municipal Tax Sharing (PMTS) - Manitoba is the only province to share corporate and personal incomes taxes with municipalities. PMTS payments to the city totaled $47.3 million in 2002-03.
• Operational Support - targeting services such as transit, policing and Dutch elm disease.

• Capital Support - enabling infrastructure improvements including residential street repair.
• Strategic Priorities - funding enhancements in areas such as mosquito larviciding, the fire/arson unit and swimming pools.

This funding is only one component of the overall provincial support to Winnipeg and its citizens. The province also supports a host of Winnipeg agencies and initiatives totalling more than $140 million. This funding supports economic development activities, downtown renewal and neighbourhood revitalization initiatives in Winnipeg. The province has also recently renewed Winnipeg's governing legislation, providing a new legislative framework for the city. The City of Winnipeg Charter took effect on Jan. 1 and provides the city with greater flexibility in managing its affairs.

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• $53 million in increased property tax credits – by increasing the property tax credit by $150.

• $10 million reduction in the Education Support Levy in 2002.

• $140 million in new investment in downtown, neighbourhood and other projects including:

• Neighbourhoods Alive! – 192 projects have been approved totalling $8.9 million.

• Building Communities – $7 million.

• Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative – $8 million over four years.

• Lighthouses – $236,000.

• North End YMCA – $1.1 million.

• Rent controls paused – on newly constructed units.

• Red River College – $31.5 million.

• Downtown Entertainment Complex – $13 million.

• CanWest Global – $6 million – 1,200 jobs.

• CentreVenture – $250,000

• Arts Consortium (Big Four) – $800,000.

• Arts and Cultural Activities Support – $23 million.

• Floodway Project – $40 million for flood protection.

• Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program – $32 million (1/3 of $97.2 million)

 

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