[March 20, 2025]
Budget 2025 Turn Challenges into Opportunities with Investments that Grow our Rural Economy: Sala
Budget 2025 meets the challenge of the current historic moment with the largest capital investment in Manitoba’s history to grow the rural economy, protect jobs, continue the government’s commitment to rebuild rural health care and lower costs for rural Manitobans and producers, Finance Minister Adrien Sala announced today.
“This budget comes at a critical time for agricultural producers, the backbone of our rural economy, and it rises to the occasion with historic funding for municipalities and records investments in capital projects that increase access to rural health care and education,” said Sala. “Rural Manitobans are asking for a government that has their backs. We didn’t start this trade war but we are making sure that our rural economy is protected. We are Building One Manitoba.”
Budget 2025 invests a record $3.7 billion in capital projects, which includes new schools, emergency rooms (ERs) and personal care homes, and strategic infrastructure to keep Manitoba’s economy moving, noted the minister.
This budget will grow Manitoba’s economy and add nearly 18,000 new jobs, said Sala, with investments in strategic infrastructure including Manitoba Hydro upgrades, 600 megawatts of wind energy in partnership with Indigenous nations, the Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Rail Line, Phase 2 of the North End Water Pollution Control Centre, twinning the east Trans-Canada Highway, the Lake St. Martin and Lake Manitoba outlet channels and the Wasagamack Airport.
Budget 2025 builds on the two percent increase in municipal funding in last year’s budget with a further two percent increase in base operating grants – plus a dedicated four percent of gas tax revenue though the new One Manitoba Growth Revenue Fund.
A strong rural economy needs a strong health-care system, added the minister, and the budget continues to make progress on rebuilding rural health care for Manitobans. Budget 2025 commits to put shovels in the ground this year on the new emergency room in Eriksdale, continued funding for the Minor Injury and Illness Clinic in Brandon, funding for The Pas clinic, new personal care homes in Lac du Bonnet and Arborg and a new mobile MRI for the north.
The budget lowers costs for farmers and producers by continuing the freeze on Crown lands lease rates, lowering AgriInsurance rates, providing permanent gas tax relief and increasing the Young Farmer Rebate to support the next generation of Manitoba farmers, noted the minister.
Budget 2025 also supports the opening of two new Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) offices in Virden and Shoal Lake, a down payment to secure three new made-in-Canada water bombers and the new Alamos Gold mine in Lynn Lake. Budget 2025 includes a tariff contingency with hundreds of millions of dollars in support to help businesses and agricultural producers pivot to new markets, help workers skill up and find good jobs, and support Manitoba’s canola farmers and pork producers facing tariff threats from the U.S. and China, added Sala.
More information on Budget 2025 can be found at www.manitoba.ca/budget2025.
– 30 –
For more information:
Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Cabinet Communications: cabcom@manitoba.ca.
Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: mgi@gov.mb.ca or 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca.
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=68000&posted=2025-03-20