Manitoba’s 2024 budget, the first under NDP Premier Wab Kinew, introduced a wide range of social spending commitments and investments in programs that will grow good jobs in the province.
“The Wab Kinew government is off to a great start,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “The 2024 Manitoba Budget is a welcome change to the previous PC government’s inaction and hostility towards working people.”
The budget announced a commitment to reduce barriers to unionization, $10 million to New Flyer facilities (where Unifor members manufacture buses) and $20 million to search the Brady Road landfill. The budget also signaled an interest in revitalizing the Manitoba Hydro board where Unifor Local 681 represents more than 330 natural gas workers and meter readers.
Other major announcements include significant contributions to improving access to training through increasing the number of apprenticeship opportunities in the province. The provincial government will also make targeted investments in health care to make care more accessible to people in the communities where they live.
The budget committed $116 million in new funding to build more social housing in Manitoba. Everything from co-operative housing to maintaining the current social housing supply is eligible, and a new Affordable Housing Partnership program will be introduced to help develop affordable housing units.
