The Manitoba government emphasized such things as good jobs, lower costs, and better health care for Manitobans as it unveiled its 2026 budget last week.
Finance Minister Adrien Sala also particularly touted his belief that the budget positions rural and northern Manitoba for long term growth, safer communities, and better health care.
He suggested the government is making responsible investments that align with Manitobans’ priorities while making progress on the path to balance the budget within four years.
“Budget 2026 reflects the priorities we heard from Manitobans every day, strengthening health care, lowering costs and creating good jobs,” said Sala. “We’re delivering real progress with relief at the grocery store, more front-line staff in our health care system and new opportunities for workers. This budget is about building a healthier, more affordable Manitoba for families.”
Sala billed it as a budget that leaves no Manitoban behind.
“For the third year in a row, our government is making historic investments outside of Winnipeg. This budget includes policies and projects for every region every region of the province, every town, every city and ever regional municipality.
“Each section of the budget contains policies and projects that will have a positive effect on rural, northern and remote families, whether it’s for health care, public safety, infrastructure, affordability or agriculture, there’s something positive for your community in this budget.”
Some key highlights included investing more in health care for the third consecutive year, adding 4,054 net new health care staff to the front lines, and focusing on new initiatives to reduce the number of emergency rooms wait times.
Sala also suggested Manitoba is leading the country in tackling rising grocery prices through new legislation that would ban predatory pricing and restrict property controls. He said this budget goes further by removing the provincial sales tax from all food sold in grocery stores starting July 1. Additional measures to lower costs for Manitobans include an increase to $1,700 to the homeowners affordability tax credit, increased rent relief, and free transit for children and youth.
The budget also builds on economic growth with a commitment to train 40 per cent more apprentices in the skilled trades and a new $10-million Churchill Catalyst Fund to attract more private-sector interest in an energy corridor that will create good jobs.
Sala further suggested the budget reflects the values of everyday Manitobans who want to see everyone succeed with progressive policies that give families with the lowest incomes the most help. This includes the change to the homeowners affordability tax credit to help Manitobans with the most give back to those with the least, new investments in free child care for low-income families, and a $2.5-million investment in adult literacy programs to help more Manitobans graduate and find a good job.
In reference to economic development, Sala touted a number of key investments in various infrastructure projects that will serve as catalysts for further growth.
“All across Manitoba, we’re building, and we know that those investments in capital are going to not only help to ensure that Manitobans have the resources and infrastructure that we need to support our local economies, but it’s also going to help put people to work.”
In a press conference, Sala fielded a question about producers facing lower crop prices and higher input costs, and what the government was going to do to help farmers maintain their profitability beyond the usual supports and loan programs.
“I think we’re doing the important work of making sure they have adequate access to those programs that we know will help our producers across the province,” he said. “We know that producers are the backbone of the provincial economy, and we know that trade disruptions are creating increased risk and uncertainty, and I think it’s critical our government is stepping up with more support to help producers.
“Our government is investing in the strength of rural and northern Manitoba,” Sala emphasized. “These communities deserve reliable infrastructure, good jobs and health care they can count on. Budget 2026 delivers real support to help families build a stronger future, close to home.”
The budget raises municipal funding by close to $6 million, bringing total base support to $198 million by 2026-27, along with new commitments for water infrastructure, Northern Affairs communities, and the Manitoba Growth, Renewal and Opportunities for Municipalities (Manitoba GRO) program.
Sala also emphasized that they are aiming to improve rural and northern health care as a priority with several initiatives to continue the provincial commitment to improving the quality of health care in those areas.
While physician recruitment and retention are at an all-time high, according to Sala, the budget adds an additional $6.3 million to recruit more doctors to Manitoba, and it also provides funding for new training pathways for nurses, paramedics and internationally trained physicians. Major capital projects include the construction or expansion of a number of hospitals, including Boundary Trails Health Centre in Morden-Winkler.
And for agricultural producers, Sala noted the budget will freeze crown land leases for the third year in a row, and producers will also benefit from the continuation of both the 50 per cent school tax rebate for farm properties and the farmland school tax rebate.
Additional funding includes:
– $45.6 million for AgriStability to help Manitoba producers manage the risks of changing weather and markets.
– $71.8 million for AgriInsurance to lower premiums and protect producers against crop production shortfalls caused by natural perils.
– $18.5 million for AgriInvest to help producers manage minor income fluctuations.
– $7.8 million for the wildlife damage compensation program to expand eligibility for claims on agricultural losses from predatory wildlife.
And to encourage young Manitobans to enter the agriculture sector, the government increases the cap on the young farmers rebate and the lifetime maximum rebate rises.
Sala also touted what he called record investment in rural and northern infrastructure ranging from twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway to Ontario to rebuilding highway 2 in southwest Manitoba.
A federal-provincial investment in 2025 of $76.9 million in water and wastewater capacity across rural Manitoba will include 22 million for the Pembina Valley Water Co-op capital plan and $4.4 million for the Morden-Winkler sewer line as well as other wastewater capacity projects totalling $28.5 million.
