Budget 2023 includes historic investments that will bring total tax and affordability measures to more than $1.8 billion between 2022 and 2024, providing $5,500 in total savings for the average two-income family by 2024:
- $311 million in tax relief through increases to the Provincial Basic Personal Amount in 2023, saving the average two-income family more than $1,000 in income taxes this year;
- $160 million to increase income tax bracket thresholds to $47,000 and $100,000 in 2024;
- combined, the Provincial Basic Personal Amount and tax bracket enhancements will save the average two-income family more than $1,250 in 2024;
- increasing the School Tax Rebate to 50 per cent on farm and residential properties, saving the average homeowner $774 this year;
- $190 million to reduce payments charged to Manitoba Hydro, saving Manitoba Hydro and ratepayers more than $4 billion over the next 20 years;
- increases to the minimum wage in April and October, bringing it to more than $15 per hour; and
- Family Affordability Package and the Carbon Tax Relief Fund payments provided the average family with $825 since fall 2022 to combat rising costs.
SAFER STREETS
Budget 2023 includes an historic investment of more than $100 million to address the challenges of violent crime and homelessness across Manitoba:
- $51.8 million for Manitoba’s Violent Crime Strategy over two years, with $34.6 million allocated this year;
- more than $51 million for Manitoba’s Homelessness Strategy;
- $3.6 million for the Downtown Community Safety Partnership to build a safer, more inviting downtown Winnipeg for businesses and residents;
- $100,000 to support ongoing operations of the Winnipeg Bear Clan Patrol Inc.;
- $9.4 million for 1,000 new treatment spaces for providers of substance-use and addictions treatment services across Manitoba;
- $1 million to support expansion of crisis stabilization unit beds, tele-psychiatry services to expand access to Manitobans living in rural and remote communities;
- $1.5 million in child and youth mental health services to improve access and reduce wait times; and
- $600,000 for flexible-length community residential withdrawal management beds in Brandon.
HEALTH CARE
Budget 2023 includes an historic investment of $7.9 billion in the health-care system, providing $668 million more to heal health care for Manitobans:
- $130 million to reduce the diagnostic and surgical backlog;
- continuing to invest $200 million into the Health Human Resource Action Plan;
- a $120-million infusion to the Manitoba Pharmacare Program including extending coverage for insulin pumps for eligible adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes;
- $1.2 billion in multi-year capital investments in rural hospitals and other health infrastructure, in addition to renovations in Winnipeg to St. Boniface Hospital, Grace Hospital, CancerCare Manitoba and Health Sciences Centre;
- creating a new hearing aid program for seniors;
- an additional $15.9 million to advance initiatives under the seniors strategy;
- $55 million to implement recommendations from the Stevenson report on long-term care; and
- ongoing funding for RAAM clinics, including a new clinic in Winnipeg, which will be Indigenous-led through a partnership with the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre.
Stronger Communities
MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS
Budget 2023 includes an historic investment of $217 million in total municipal operating
funding – $47 million more than last year and the largest increase in a decade:
- $268.5 million in capital expenditures to build, renovate and expand more schools;
- $100 million in new funding for school divisions;
- more than $81 million to Community Living and Children’s disABILITY Services agencies for a funded average wage of $19/ hour, bringing the total budget for disability services to an historic $640 million this year;
- $76.1 million to reduce regulated parent fees for child care to $10 per day;
- $8.7 million to support recycling, composting and waste diversion initiatives;
- $50 million for the Arts, Culture and Sport in Community Fund; and
- $10 million to support a new Parks Capital Plan.
OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD
Budget 2023 makes an historic investment in infrastructure and other initiatives will transform Manitoba into a global trade and transportation corridor:
- more than $2.5 billion in trade-enabling highway infrastructure over the next five years;
- a total of up to $160.4 million on an ongoing basis for cost-shared investments in municipal capital projects including water and wastewater projects;
- $147.6 million over two years in the Hudson Bay rail line to the Port of Churchill;
- an additional $50-million contribution to venture capital fund to grow businesses in Manitoba
- $2.3 million to increase the payroll tax exemption and the reduced rate threshold;
- $92.5 million in funding to support post-secondary education and the labour market;
- $2 million for the expansion of the Newcomer Community Integration Support Program;
- $103.1-million contribution to AgriInsurance premiums to help protect producers against crop production shortfalls caused by adverse weather events; and
- increased investments in mining activities, expanding opportunities for northern and Indigenous communities.
