Manitoba premier says he wants stability, increases in federal transfer payments
With questions being raised about equalization payments to the provinces, Manitoba is seeking predictability, with room for increases, from federal parties when it comes to all federal transfers.
Premier Wab Kinew said Tuesday he raised the issue in a meeting in March with federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
"The assurances that Mr. Poilievre and that other leaders who are auditioning for potential future government (and) predictability from the existing administration -- we welcome public commitments to that effect," Kinew said following a speech to the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce.
"I made the case (to Poilievre). I said, 'Here is what I want to do in terms of moving us from have-not to have status. In order for us to get there, we need stability and predictability on transfer payments."'
Manitoba saw its federal transfers, which include payments for health and social programs, rise by more than $900 million this year. The biggest increase came in equalization payments, which are given to poorer provinces according to a complex formula that measures fiscal capacity.
Manitoba receives higher federal transfer payments per capita than all other provinces outside of the Maritimes, according to figures from the federal Finance department. Equalization alone is forecast to be worth $4.3 billion this fiscal year -- roughly 18 per cent of all Manitoba government revenues.
Equalization has come under fire from politicians including Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who has said it's unfair and called for changes.
The federal government has committed to maintaining the current equalization formula until 2029, while Poilievre said in March, after his meeting with Kinew, that the Conservatives would outline their position in the next election campaign.
Kinew said he would like to see the formula for all transfer payments maintained along with increases that take into account inflation and population growth.
In his speech to the business group, Kinew said he would like to see Manitoba become a have province by boosting economic growth, increasing the labour force and stemming the tide of young workers leaving for other provinces.
He said becoming a have province -- something discussed by previous premiers -- is a "very ambitious" goal.
The premier also touted the NDP government's changes to education property taxes.
The province is eliminating rebates on residential and commercial properties and enacting a flat $1,500 credit for residential properties occupied by their owners in a move that would raise an extra $148 million a year in provincial revenues.
Kinew said while the changes will see some property owners pay more, the credit means savings for many homeowners, especially in rural and northern areas. People in lower-value homes will save the most, he said, and that should allow more people to enter the housing market.
"This is going to represent a huge step forward in making home ownership more affordable, not just inside the (Winnipeg) perimeter but across the province of Manitoba," he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2024
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6978861.1722008569!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
At least 4 buildings burned at Jasper Park Lodge, others damaged: Fairmont memo
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge said Thursday afternoon most of its structures are "standing and intact," including its iconic main lodge.
Major Canadian bank dealing with direct deposit outage on pay day
Scotiabank has acknowledged technical difficulties affecting direct deposits as clients report missed payments Friday morning. On Friday morning, the bank's client services phone line was playing an automated message assuring customers that work was underway to rectify the outage.
Elon Musk's estranged daughter calls out his 'entirely fake' claims about her childhood
Vivian Jenna Wilson, Elon Musk's estranged daughter, publicly refuted several recent anti-trans statements her Tesla CEO and X owner father has made about her.
Reported rate of child pornography increased 52% in 2023, total crime up 3%: Statistics Canada
Last year, reported child pornography cases increased by more than 50 per cent in Canada, in part due to more cases being sent to police by specialized internet child exploitation units, according to a Statistics Canada report.
Justin Timberlake's attorney disputes he was intoxicated when arrested for DWI
A hearing in the case of Justin Timberlake being accused of driving while intoxicated was held Friday, where an attorney for the singer disputed his arrest in June.
What we know about 'malicious' attack on French train network ahead of Olympics opening
French transport was thrust into chaos Friday just hours ahead of the Olympics 2024 opening ceremony after a series of co-ordinated 'malicious acts' upended high-speed train lines.Here's what happened and what we know so far.
When Barbie learned what a gynecologist was, so did many other people, according to new study
A new study published Thursday in the journal JAMA Network Open has found that the ending in the 2023 blockbuster film 'Barbie' had an influence on online search interest in terms around gynecology, the branch of medicine that deals with women’s reproductive health.
Canada Soccer head investigating 'systemic ethical shortcoming' amid spying scandal
Canada Soccer chief executive officer Kevin Blue said he was investigating a potential 'systemic ethical shortcoming' within the program but has not considered pulling the women's soccer team from the Paris Olympics due to a drone spying scandal.
Federal government posts $3.9B deficit in April, May
The result for the April-to-May period compared to a $1.5 billion surplus for the same stretch last year.