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For additional information relating to this article, please contact:

Thomas Storring	Director – Economics and Statistics
Tel: 902-424-2410	Email: thomas.storring@novascotia.ca

March 25, 2026
MANITOBA BUDGET 2026-27

The Province of Manitoba released its provincial budget for 2026-27 on March 24, 2026.   

Manitoba's 2026-27 budget anticipates a deficit of $498 million (after a $100 million contingency provision), narrowing from the $1.67 billion deficit now forecast for the 2025-26 fiscal year.  In the subsequent two fiscal years, Manitoba is projected to run small surpluses after providing for a $50 million contingency in each year.

Manitoba's provincial government revenues are projected to grow by 9.7% in 2026-27 while expenditures are projected to rise by 4.6%. Manitoba's revenue growth is projected to slow to 4.8% in 2027-28 and to 2.9% in 2028-29 while expenditures grow by 2.9% in each year.                                                                                                                 

 

Measured as a share of GDP, the footprint of provincial government in Manitoba's economy amounts to 26.4% of GDP in 2026-27.  This is projected to shrink somewhat to 26.1% of GDP by 2028-29.  Manitoba's deficit for 2026-27 amounts to 0.5% of projected 2026 nominal GDP.   

Manitoba's net debt is expected to peak at 38.2% of GDP in 2026-27, falling to 37.2% by 2028-29.    

Manitoba's 2026-27 Budget expenditures amount to $18,041 per capita (plus a contingency of $66 per capita), funded by revenues of $17,778 per capita and a deficit of $329 per capita.  Expenditures per capita are projected to rise by $467 in the subsequent fiscal year (offset by a $33 per capita reduction in contingency) while per capita revenues rise $768 and the per capita deficit of $329 shifts to a surplus of $5 per capita.

Compared with last year's fiscal plan, Manitoba now anticipates both higher revenues (+$692 million) and higher expenditures (+$913 million).     

Despite a 2025-26 deficit that was larger than projected, the Manitoba Budget continues to expect return to balance by 2027-28 (as was projected in the 2025-26 Budget). 

The Manitoba Budget assumes real GDP growth of 1.3% in 2026 (3.6% in nominal terms) followed by 1.7% in 2027 (3.8% in nominal terms).  Population growth is expected to slow due to changes in Federal international migration policies.  Slower population growth is expected to constrain labour market gains and consumer demand in 2026.  Manitoba's diversified economy is expected to help the province weather uncertainty around international trade policies.

Key Measures and Initiatives

Manitoba's Budget prioritizes employment, affordability and health care.  Key measures include: 

Employment, economic growth and communities

• $10 million Churchill Plus Catalyst Fund
• $262.5 million in federal and provincial funding (5 years) to to develop the Churchill port and Hudson Bay rail line
• $450,000 in operating funds to Centreport Canada
• $50 million in Trade Growth Investment Financing program
• $2 million to support First Nations-owned Minago mine
• $4 million Indigenous economic development fund
• A new economic development agency
• $1.4 million for the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund
• $10 million in new additional funding for highways
• $76.9 million provincial-federal investment in water and wastewater management
• $1.17 billion in capital investments in Manitoba Hydro
• $16.2 million for the road and airport at Wasagamack First Nation
• $26.5 million towards highway improvements
• $143.7 million in business risk management programming for farmers 
• $2.5 million in new funding for adult literacy
• $7.2 million to train more apprentices
• $80 million in new funding for schools
• $118 million to build schools with child care centres
• 21 new child-care centres and 2,315 new spaces opening this year
• $3 million for a new play structure fund
• $473.5 million in funding to municipalities
• $15.3 million in funding for Northern communities
• $1.2 million to add 19 more firefighters to fight wildfires
• $459,000 to hire four more conservation officers
• $1.2 million to upgrade Manitoba Wildfire Services fire mapping systems
• $1.2 million to expand bail monitoring
• $7 million for the Dauphin Centre for Justice
• $143.9 million to create 215 units of social and affordable housing and repair and renovate others
• $8.2 million for wraparound supports for Manitobans moving from tents to housing
• 24-7 snow clearing pilot on the Perimeter Highway
• Strengthening the Residential Tenancies Branch
• Increasing francophone services, modernizing government services, increasing American Sign Language services
• Supporting reconciliation across the province
• Launching a Sio Silica inquiry

Health care

• $2.3 million to lower ER waits 
• $13.6 million for a new mental health zone
• $4.4 million for the protective care centre
• $36.1 million to build a new emergency rooms
• $223 million for more doctors
• $1.8 million to recruit four clinician-researchers
• $22.1 million for the cardiac centre at St. Boniface Hospital
• $1.7 million for more hip and knee surgeries
• $1.2 million to more MRI scans
• $5 million for food for seniors
• New incentives to recruit and retain paramedics
• $5.2 million for the new Manitoba Menopause Clinic
• $36.5 million to expand electronic medical records
• $5.3 million in security measures to protect health-care workers
• $6.3 million to recruit more doctors to rural Manitoba
• $60.6 million for a new CancerCare headquarters
• $12.2 million for the Health-Care Centre of Excellence in Portage Place
• A new personal care home in Bridgwater

Affordability

• Removal of provincial sales tax from all food in grocery stores
• $1,700 Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit
• Increasing the Renters Affordability Tax Credit to $675 and increasing the seniors top-up to $385.71
• Free transit for kids and youth
• Free child care for low-income families
• Permanent gas tax relief
• Extending the EV rebate
• Free menstrual products in workplaces
• Continuing the Crown land rent freeze 
• Increasing the amount eligible for the Young Farmer Rebate from $400,000 to $425,000
• $16.1 million for Rent Assist and supports for persons with disabilities

Manitoba Budget 2026-27

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