Manitoba.

• Author: Signorelli, Andrea
• Position: Legislative Reports

The Fourth session of the 40th Legislature resumed on April 30, 2015, with the delivery of the first budget from new Finance Minister Greg Dewar.

In the fiscal year 2015-2016, the total operating expenditure of the Manitoba Government is estimated to be $12.8 billion, which represents an increase of 2.3 per cent from the 2013-2014 expenditure forecast. Highlights of the government's budget included:

* a new Youth Jobs Strategy and new post-secondary strategy to link advanced learning and jobs

* tax credits to cover costs for firms training young people and 200 more apprenticeship seats in Manitoba's colleges

* the opening of two new QuickCare clinics and the development of health facilities in rural Manitoba.

* investments of more than $1 billion in projects all over Manitoba and more than $440 million for municipal priorities

* the removal of an additional 2,000 small businesses from the tax rolls, the expansion the green energy equipment tax credit, and cooperation with the Winnipeg Airport Authority for more direct international flights

* an increase the minimum wage to $11.00 per hour

* initiatives for families and in communities including an increase to the caregiver tax credit by 10 per cent, a new child and youth mental health strategy, new supports for foster parents, new resources for Aboriginal-led community organizations, and the creation of 900 new childcare spaces

* the doubling of the Seniors Tax Rebate to $470

During his contribution to the budget debate on May 1,2015, Official Opposition Leader Brian Pallister moved a motion expressing non-confidence in the government, which stated that the budget neglected the priorities of Manitobans by

* failing to recognize that Manitobans are tired of broken promises such as balancing the budget by 2014 and not raising taxes, not respecting the right to vote on tax increases, and not recognizing that Manitobans want a change for the better;

* failing to recognize that Manitobans are paying more and getting less due to front-line services like health care and education being ranked last, and also due to an average family in Winnipeg having to pay $3,200 more in provincial taxes than a comparable average family living in Regina; and

* failing to acknowledge that government waste has caused the provincial debt to double since 2008, requiring Manitobans to pay more than $800 million in debt interest charges, which threatens Manitoba's future as that money cannot be invested to protect essential front-line services, reduce health-care wait times or improve education results for our children.

On May 12, 2015, Mr. Pallister's amendment was defeated on a...