Manitoba Minute: Looming Budget, Education Bills, and Tariff Measures Ongoing

Manitoba Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Manitoba politics.

This Week In Manitoba:

• Manitoba’s NDP government is set to present its annual budget on March 20th. Premier Wab Kinew has indicated the fiscal plan will address the economic impact of US tariffs, with promises of temporary tax relief for affected businesses. While details on revenue projections are yet to be disclosed, the government has acknowledged the potential for reduced revenues due to the tariffs. Manitoba has faced consistent deficits, with the current fiscal year’s deficit expected to rise to $1.3 billion, primarily due to increased healthcare costs. Kinew has committed to balancing the budget by the next election in 2027.
  
  
• The Manitoba government is introducing several education-related bills, including one to eliminate the rule requiring students to sing "God Save the King" daily in schools. This provision, not enforced for years, was recently revived in a Manitoba school division, sparking public opposition related to reconciliation. Another bill mandates school boards to adopt policies for land and treaty acknowledgements, while another allows Indigenous languages as a medium of instruction. Additionally, a proposed law would establish a free daily school nutrition program, named "Nello's Law," in honour of a former education minister. However, the bill includes a controversial clause that would reduce cabinet ministers' salaries if future governments attempt to cut the program, a move criticized as a potential violation of parliamentary sovereignty.
  
  
• Genesis Fertilizers, a Saskatchewan-based company, is partnering with Arctic Gateway Group to import fertilizer ingredients through the Port of Churchill. The collaboration aims to reduce reliance on US imports by sourcing phosphate and ammonium sulphate internationally. Genesis CEO Jason Mann emphasized the importance of using Churchill’s infrastructure, especially amid tariff uncertainties with the US. The company plans to produce one million tonnes of fertilizer annually, requiring 300,000 tonnes of phosphate. Arctic Gateway highlighted Churchill’s potential for expanding critical mineral storage and exports.

Last Week In Manitoba:

• Manitoba has signalled it may limit hydroelectricity exports to the US in response to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump but has not yet implemented immediate cutbacks or surcharges. The NDP government now requires cabinet approval for new, extended, or cancelled power contracts with US entities. Premier Wab Kinew emphasized the need to send a strong message about the negative impact of the tariffs while weighing the economic importance of energy exports. Manitoba has already pulled US alcohol products from liquor stores and is considering further restrictions on American companies securing provincial contracts. A new Bill introduced in the Legislature would establish a "buy Canadian" policy to prioritize domestic suppliers. Kinew criticized the partial tariff reductions on energy and other products, insisting that all tariffs must be removed.
  
  
• Morgan Harris’s remains have been identified among those found at the Prairie Green landfill, marking a significant development in the search for victims of a serial killer. Harris and Marcedes Myran, both from Long Plain First Nation, were among four Indigenous women murdered in 2022. The search for their remains began last December after public pressure and advocacy from families and Indigenous leaders. The previous provincial government initially opposed searching the landfill, but the new administration committed to the effort. Advocates say this discovery is a vindication for the families, though they stress the need for systemic changes to prevent future tragedies. Indigenous leaders continue to call for urgent action to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
  
  
• The University of Manitoba and its faculty association have reached a tentative agreement, preventing a potential strike at the province’s largest university. The University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) announced the deal early Saturday, with members set to vote on March 13th. While full details have not been disclosed, the agreement includes progress on salary, childcare, equity provisions, and online teaching approaches. UMFA had been without a contract since March 2024, and faculty previously voted to authorize a strike.