Budget 2015 builds on Manitoba's economic strengths and continues to support job creation, protect services for families, invest in training for careers here at home and improve infrastructure across the province.
Economic Strengths
- The Conference Board of Canada forecasts Manitoba's average rate of economic growth to lead the country for 2015 and 2016 combined.
- Manitoba's economy is creating jobs faster than any other province - more than 20,000 new jobs since the last provincial budget.
- Three out of every four new jobs are in the private sector and four out of five are full time.
- BMO Capital Markets named Manitoba a "rising star" in job creation.
Education
- New Youth Jobs Strategy
- New post-secondary strategy to better link advanced learning and good jobs.
- Enhanced tax credits will help more firms cover the costs of training young people.
- 200 more apprenticeship seats in Manitoba's colleges.
Health Care
- Work with Manitoba doctors to make the health care system sustainable and find $50 million in efficiencies.
- Open two new QuickCare clinics this year in Southdale and Seven Oaks.
- New and improved health facilities are under development in rural Manitoba.
Business and the Economy
- Help small businesses create jobs by taking an additional 2,000 small businesses off the tax rolls.
- Renew tax credits for film and video production, and interactive digital media, among others.
- Expand the green energy equipment tax credit.
- Work with the Winnipeg Airport Authority for more direct international flights.
- Increase the minimum wage to $11.00 per hour.
Families and Communities
- Increase the caregiver tax credit by 10 per cent.
- New child and youth mental health strategy.
- New supports for foster parents.
- New resources for Aboriginal-led community organizations.
- Invest in 900 new childcare spaces.
- Double the Seniors Tax Rebate to $470.
- New volunteer firefighter and volunteer search and rescue tax credits.
Affordable Government
- Responsible deficit reduction while protecting front-line services.
- 600 civil service positions have been eliminated and the amount of government office space has been reduced.
Infrastructure
- Investing an all-time record of more than $1 billion, with projects all over Manitoba.
- Investing more than $440 million for municipal priorities from roads to flood protection to police.
- Committing to contribute one-third of the funding of the proposed Waverly Street and Marion Street underpasses.
- Commit $5 million to new Build Winnipeg Partnership.
- Improving funding for rural municipal roads and bridges.
Environment
- Creating a new $1 million fund for climate-change initiatives.
- $15 million to modernize and enhance provincial parks, including Birds Hill Park and Grand Beach.
- Protect lakes, the boreal forest and natural environment.
- Leverage $1 billion over the next five years to enhance water quality and restore the health of Lake Winnipeg.
