The Canadian Press: Manitoba budget, set for Tuesday, to include several tax breaks and hits

The budget comes at a time of continued red ink for the province. Manitoba has registered deficits in every year but two since 2009, and the deficit for the last fiscal year was recently forecast at close to $2 billion.

“This is a very, very tough budgetary situation,” said Paul Thomas, professor emeritus of political studies at the University of Manitoba.

Expectations are also high, as the NDP promised to hire more health-care workers, boost the hours of direct care for residents in personal care homes and increase funding to municipalities, schools and other bodies.

Thomas said he views this budget “as the first real test” for the government to both deliver on its expansive agenda of progressive reforms and show fiscal prudence with a plan to achieve a balanced budget during its first term in office.

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