July 1 the Provincial Sales Tax will be reduced from eight percent to seven percent.
It will save a family of four approximately $500 a year and a single individual approximately $180 per year. The new retail sales tax rate will be the third lowest among all provinces and the lowest rate east of Saskatchewan, tied with British Columbia.
Finance Minister Scott Fielding notes the 2019 budget forecasts a summary deficit of $360 million for the 2019-20 fiscal year, $161 million less than the deficit projected in Budget 2018 for the 2018-19 fiscal year.
"We’ve increased funding for health care, for education and for families to record levels in each of our budgets, to the highest levels in Manitoba history," says Fielding. "And yet, we’ve still been able to reduce our deficit and stay on track to deliver a balanced budget in the next six years. This accomplishment shows our plan is working."
"I know in our communities there are needs, we are growing communities in Morden, Winkler and Stanley," Friesen says. "But I think people realize, when we say in our budget that healthcare spending will be $400 million more than in 2016, these statements of there being cuts are not accurate."
"We need more healthcare, not less in Manitoba," he adds. "This is the way we get it... we are looking for every efficiency and innovation to do our job better and every dollar saved... is an opportunity to reinvest in the services Manitobans deserve and expect.
The MLA for Morris feels the provincial budget fulfills a number of commitments made to Manitobans during the 2016 provincial election.
"What's not to like about this document! As of July 1st, the PST will be rolled back from 8 percent to 7 percent. Obviously, this will impact families, but on a larger scale, this will have a significant positive impact on our municipalities, our towns, our cities, our school divisions and health authorities. The amount of PST that these organizations and communities pay is significant."
The province's financial plan will also beef up police security in the province, which should be of some comfort for rural communities. Additional money has been earmarked to hire more RCMP officers, according to Martin.
"We will be hiring 29 additional RCMP staff, 27 of which will be RCMP officers. I think this will have a direct improvement in the quality of justice in Manitoba and I think it's something that is going to be very welcome in every community I represent."
"When we came in the government they were $500 and we had people that would think twice about calling an ambulance just because they couldn't afford it," says Pedersen.
Every second is essential when someone's life is on the line, and with critical care services like STARS Air Ambulance working in partnership with local ambulance dispatches, it is important to reduce the financial impact on patients and their families.
"As part of this, we've increased staffing of the paramedics . . . Care begins now when that ambulance comes to the scene of where it's needed."
As well, Pedersen is pleased with the work the government has done to reduce the deficit and the record increase of private investments coming into all sectors of the province.
"It's a great day for Manitoba . . . When you can lower taxes and lower the deficit at the same time, it shows that we're keeping our word to Manitobans, and Manitobans certainly have lots to be proud of in their government."
Emerson MLA Cliff Graydon says the PST cut announced in today's provincial budget is a step in the right direction.
"That's a big issue for all of Manitoba, and it's probably a year in advance of what was anticipated. That's going to have a huge impact."
Graydon added he was also pleased to see the province commit to hiring 27 more RCMP officers, however he says there's no guarantee there are enough graduates to fill that order.
Additionally, the Independent MLA took notice of the province's further commitment to combating the meth and opioid crisis in Manitoba by setting aside $20 million to allow the province to sign the upcoming addictions and mental health bilateral agreement with the federal government. However, Graydon pointed out there was no money set aside for a safe injection site in the province.
He was however pleased to see government move forward on a commitment to lower ambulance fees, cutting them in half from $500 to $250.
Meantime, Graydon said Thursday's budget fell short on infrastructure funding.
"They said there was three hundred and fifty (million dollars) for highways...and a billion dollars for infrastructure overall. That sounds real good and you think you'll get a lot of highway work done but you're not going to. A lot of that money will be going to flood-proofing on Lake Manitoba."
Other highlights in Budget 2019 include:
-investing historic levels of funding in health care to lower ambulance fees to a maximum of $250, to open five new or enhanced health facilities with operating funding of $6.4 million, to hire 35 additional primary care paramedics with $3.8 million in devoted funding and to increase renal replacement therapy funding by $2.4 million;
-reserving $20 million to allow the province to sign the upcoming addictions and mental health bilateral agreement with the federal government;
-increasing primary and secondary school funding by $6.6 million, and increasing kindergarten to Grade 12 capital funding by more than $56 million to support structural repairs, roof replacements, new mechanical systems and accessibility projects, facilities for special needs students and major additions at École Noël-Ritchot in the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine and Mitchell Elementary in the Hanover School Division, as well as funding for existing new school projects in Brandon, Niverville, Winkler and Winnipeg;
-increasing funding for Community Living and disABILITY Services by $13.6 million to $439.5 million;
-increasing operating funding for existing and new community-based day care projects by $759,000;
-allocating an additional $325,000 to provide direct services for victims of domestic violence and continuing to support organizations like the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, Brandon Victim Services and Candace House;
-increasing Manitoba’s RCMP staffing complement by 29 positions, including funding for 27 additional officers;
-providing a total of $313.5 million in basket funding for local governments that continues to provide municipalities with the flexibility they need to meet local needs including enhanced support for roads and bridges for municipalities outside of Winnipeg;
-providing over $350 million in dedicated funding for highway infrastructure and projects such as the Daly Bridge in Brandon, the replacement of the existing overpass near Portage la Prairie and improvements to PTH 21 near Shoal Lake;
-allocating $45 million toward capital projects in recognition of Manitoba’s 150th anniversary including funding for additional highways and other infrastructure projects;
-spending more than $1 billion on strategic infrastructure such as roads and bridges, water and wastewater infrastructure projects, flood protection, hospitals, schools, universities and colleges;
-increasing funding for the Manitoba Film and Video Production Tax Credit to $31.5 million from $16 million;
-funding major improvements to airports at St. Theresa Point, Norway House and Shamattawa;
-increasing funding for the Young Farmer Rebate Enhancement program by 32 per cent to $2 million; and
-supporting 15 new projects and over 50 drain rehabilitation projects under the Water Related Capital program, for a total estimated investment of $46 million.
Sat, Apr 20, 8:24 AM
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