Manitoba’s
Minister of Finance, Jennifer Howard, tabled the 2014 budget in the Legislature
yesterday afternoon. It was a cautious, stay-the-course budget with little
substantial change from the previous years.
“Lean”
was the word of the day on public services and a plan is in place to transform
the administration to be more efficient rather than taking harsh austerity
measures as seen in other provinces, while still maintaining the programs and
services that Manitobans rely on.
“If
‘lean’ is code for cuts, we’re not interested. If it’s a genuine opportunity
for MGEU members to have a voice in how to improve services, we’re interested
in having that conversation, says Michelle Gawronsky, MGEU President.
“We are also concerned that nine departments
will see little or no increase in their budgets when Manitobans are telling us
for example that parks and natural areas are a priority for them.”
Several items in the budget may be especially important to MGEU members:
· No new announced cuts to the civil service
· $5.5 million will be added for new child-care spaces and employee wages
· Improved tax credit of $5,000 to encourage employees take on more apprentices
· There is also an additional 2% increase in funding for colleges, and 2.5% for universities
· A training program for Advanced Care Paramedics
· New infrastructure funding, including $5.5 billion over 5 years towards roads, bridges and water infrastructure
“We are encouraged by the verbal commitment to protecting front-line services going forward, but we’ll have to take a look at the numbers to make sure front-line services are protected,” says Gawronsky. “We’re pleased we didn’t see wholesale cuts in this budget, but let’s remember we have seen this in the recent past with last year’s announcement of 600 job cuts, and the privatization of the Property Registry.”
The MGEU will continue to look at the details in the budget and the lean initiative through consultation with the government and the membership to ensure services to Manitobans will be protected.