Tax cuts for individuals and business, record spending in health, education and families, and a dramatically reduced deficit are the highlights of Manitoba’s 2018 budget, Finance Minister Cameron Friesen said as he introduced the budget today in the legislature. “We promised to fix the finances, repair the services and rebuild the economy,” said Friesen.  “We are keeping our promises.” By increasing the threshold under which individuals pay no income tax by $2,020 over the next two years, the Government of Manitoba is taking more than 30,000 Manitobans off the tax rolls – that is more than 30,000 more Manitobans who will pay no income tax – and adding more than $230 million to the economy by putting it back in the pockets of Manitobans. Budget 2018 also gives small and medium-sized businesses a break by raising the small business income tax threshold to $500,000 from $450,000.  This will save individual businesses up to $6,000 a year – money they can reinvest in new jobs or technology – and pump $7 million back into the economy each year starting in 2019. This year’s budget makes a further dramatic step on the path to balancing the budget with the biggest reduction in the deficit since summary budgeting was introduced in 2007, Friesen noted.  Budget 2018 reduces the deficit by $319 million from Budget 2017. “Manitobans face challenges of rising hydro rates, increased federal and municipal taxes, and interest rates rising. They deserve a break,” the minister said.  “With this budget, and the biggest tax cut in Manitoba’s history, we are giving them a break by taking money from the cabinet table and putting it back on the kitchen table.” Other highlights include: a historic investment of $102 million to establish an independently run conservation trust that will fund projects to support the Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan; a record investment of $6.2 billion in Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living including an additional $14 million for the Home Cancer Drug program, $7.7 million for expanded dialysis treatment and $3.1 million for rare disease drugs, and the creation of 60 new full-time paramedic positions decreasing ambulance fees to $340 from $425, totalling a 32 per cent decrease since forming government and keeping on track to reduce to $250 as promised; a $60.5-million increase in funding to Manitoba Families including $13 million more for Community Living DisABILITY Services, an increase in funding to improve the supply and quality of affordable housing; support funding for over 700 new child-care spaces including funding for the construction of 251 new spaces; a $13.7-million increase in education funding and confirmation of the construction of five new schools:  Seven Oaks (kindergarten to Grade 5); Waterford Green (kindergarten to Grade 8); Southeast Brandon (kindergarten to Grade 8); Pembina Trails Waverley West (kindergarten to Grade 8), and Pembina Trails Waverley West (grades 9 to  12); a new Child Care Centre Development Tax Credit that gives businesses an incentive valued up to $10,000 over five years to create daycare spaces for workers’ children; $70 million to launch the Lake Manitoba outlet project; funding to complete ‘Freedom Road’ this year, to complete the Waverley Street underpass and upgrade the Portage la Prairie wastewater treatment plant; partnering with the federal government to invest $176.8 million in strategic agricultural initiatives over the next five years; investing in Look North, the long-term economic development strategy for growth and prosperity in northern Manitoba; supporting a northern tourism strategy; and a $16-million commitment for the coming fiscal year for the Manitoba Film and Video Production Tax Credit. “Even as we take a moderate and balanced approach to fiscal management and fixing our finances, we are investing in the priorities of Manitobans,” said Friesen.  “Whether you are a small business owner, a student, a senior or a working Manitoban, Budget 2018 is designed with you in mind.” The importance of fiscal discipline and fixing the province’s finances is demonstrated by the fact that for the first time in Manitoba history, debt servicing costs will exceed $1 billion. “Years of mismanagement and reckless spending by the previous government have created a situation where we take $1 billion out of our economy and ship it to out-of-province bankers – money that cannot be invested on health, education, families or any priorities of Manitobans,” the minister said. If debt servicing was a government department, noted Friesen, it would be the fourth-largest spending department by budget. “We cannot lose sight of the importance of fixing our finances,” said Friesen.  “Debt and deficits are not abstract concepts.  It is about people, Manitobans and ensuring government can continue to provide the services that citizens need and deserve.  Not just now, but into the future.” Budget 2018 reaffirms the government’s commitments to reduce the PST to seven per cent by 2020 and balance the budget during its second term. “Our plan is working, and when you have a plan that is succeeding – that’s getting the results you promised – you stick with it,” said Friesen. “That’s what Budget 2018 does.” A list of Budget 2018 fact sheets for government departments can be found at: www.gov.mb.ca/budget2018/department/index.html.

A semi and a minivan collided in the 2000 block of Victoria Ave East midday on Monday. A section of Victoria Ave East was closed down for approximately half an hour to 45 minutes to allow emergency crews to assess the scene, and to allow for clean up of the incident. The minivan left the scene on a flatbed tow truck, while the semi was able to be driven away. Nobody was transported to hospital.  Photos by Liam Pattison Photography.

Province of MB Media Release As a key deliverable of our 2018 provincial budget, we are pleased to confirm the Manitoba government will be proceeding with the construction of five new schools with initial capacity for 3,300 students and 392 child-care spaces. With a total investment of well over $100 million, work will begin on the following new schools over the course of the next two years: • Brandon School Division – Southeast Brandon (kindergarten to Grade 8); • Pembina Trails School Division – Waverley West (kindergarten to Grade 8); • Pembina Trails School Division – Waverley West (grades 9 to 12); • Seven Oaks School Division – Precinct ‘E’ (kindergarten to grade 5); and • Winnipeg School Division – Waterford Green (kindergarten to Grade 8). Last year, we announced that we would explore the feasibility and benefits of building four new schools using a P3 partnership model, and we retained KPMG to advise us to learn from the experience of other jurisdictions. After a careful review of the information provided to us, with the expertise gained we have decided to build these schools by enhancing our conventional Public Schools Finance Board (PSFB) approach. The PSFB has been able to harness many of the same ‘bulk buy’ savings that would be available to P3 schools, leverage the scale of building multiple schools at once and accelerate the process. As a result of our commitment to shop smarter on behalf of the taxpayer, we have identified at least $18 million in savings over conventional costs and are able to fund the construction of one more school than initially planned. While we remain fully committed to the benefits of P3s and partnering with private enterprise, we will always take a pragmatic – not ideological – approach to infrastructure financing, and seek to find the best value for taxpayers. Our goal since day one has been to catch up with the need for new schools and deliver quality, new learning environments for our students and educators at the best possible price. The PSFB intends to issue tenders for the Waterford Green, Precinct E and Brandon schools by the end of 2018, and for Waverley West the following year.

Brandon Police Service Media Release At 8:30 pm, a vehicle was reported to have been stuck in a snow bank in the 000 block of 9th St. A 35 year old Brandon man was arrested in relation to this and later provided breath samples of over twice the legal limit. He was charged with Impaired Driving and Driving Over .08 and released for a later court date.  At 3:15 am, a vehicle was observed driving erratically on 18th St North. The vehicle was pulled over in the 1700 block of Parker Blvd and the 34-year-old Brandon woman who was operating the vehicle was showing signs of impairment and was arrested for impaired driving. She was transported to BPS where she later provided breath samples which were over twice the legal limit. She was charged with Impaired Driving and Driving over .08 and was released for court at a later date

Brandon Police Service Media Release At approximately 10:40 p.m., members of the Crime Support Unit executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act Search Warrant at a condominium in the 400 Block of 9th Street. Three individuals were located inside, including the male resident and a female. The third person located was released without charge. A search of the residence and a vehicle operated by the male suspect recovered $22,000 in Cash, 240 grams of Cocaine and drug trafficking related paraphernalia.  A search of the purse belonging to the female suspect recovered $700 Cash and four 1-gram bags of Cocaine. The street value of the recovered Cocaine is $24,000. The 43-year-old man and 28-year-old female were arrested for Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking and Possession of Proceeds of Crime. The male suspect was lodged at the Brandon Correctional Center and is scheduled to appear in Court on Friday. The female was released and is scheduled to appear in Court in May.