FRANCAIS

January 27, 2004

Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjornson announced a two per cent increase totalling $17.6 million for public schools this year, keeping the government’s promise to increase funding at the rate of economic growth.

The minister noted the two per cent funding increase is also above the 1.8 per cent rate of inflation and includes specific increases to technology education programming, special needs and Aboriginal academic achievement.

Today’s highlights include:

• An increase of $17.6 million in new funding for public schools, a two per cent increase for 2004-05. The two per cent increase represents the fifth consecutive year the province has met its commitment to fund public schools at the rate of economic growth.
• Funding levels over the last five years increased 13.5 per cent, 2.6 per cent higher than the actual rate of economic growth and almost three per cent higher than provincial inflation rates over the same period.
• Support per pupil has increased 14.6 per cent since 1999, compared to an increase of 2.3 per cent from 1994 to 1999.
• The additional $17.6 million in provincial funding builds on existing provincial support for public education. In 2003-04, total provincial government support for public education was $1.2 billion or 72.2 per cent of the cost of the public education system.

"Education continues to be a top priority for our government," said Bjornson. "Over the last five years, our government has invested $105 million in new funding for public schools and this represents a significant contribution to Manitoba’s education system."

Today’s announcement also included the following increases:

• $850,000 for senior years technical-vocational education to help meet labour market shortages in technological and trade occupations;
• $100,000 for English as a second language;
• $400,000 for Aboriginal academic achievement;
• $3.2 million for special needs growth;
• $4.5 million for instructional support;
• $1.2 million for counselling and guidance; and
• $300,000 for library support.

The minister noted that this year’s announcement builds on efforts to provide property tax relief, and that the government has delivered—and exceeded—its promises on property tax reductions made in the 1999 election including:

• The education property tax credit homeowner advance portion has been increased to $400 annually—it had been cut to $250 before 1999.
• The phase-out of the residential Education Support Levy (ESL) began in the 2002 Budget and continued in the 2003 Budget—saving taxpayers $27 million to date and $98 million when completed.

The minister also noted the government will follow through on its promise to provide a more direct and transparent allocation to school divisions of the $175 million education property tax credit. The principles of this transparency will ensure equity for homeowners, that the tax benefit continues to flow to homeowners and that there is no reduction in benefits to existing recipients, he said.

"Our government is committed to providing a stable level of funding to the public education system while providing meaningful tax relief to Manitoba homeowners," said Bjornson. "This approach ensures sustainability and an affordable public education system."

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