By Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press
Premier Wab Kinew and members of his NDP caucus outside the legislative building hold a press conference in Winnipeg on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Steve Lambert)
Politicians are set to return to the Manitoba legislative chamber today amid economic fallout from U.S. tariffs and ongoing challenges in provincial health care.
Premier Wab Kinew says tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump will be a “serious economic headwind” as the NDP government prepares its spring budget.
He says one priority is protecting jobs during the uncertainty and that tax deferrals for businesses announced this week will help.
The province has run deficits in every year but two since 2009, and the government has promised to balance the budget before the next election in 2027.
It has already seen that plan challenged because of some departments, most notably Health, running over budget this fiscal year.
Several bills are expected to be introduced, including one to enshrine school nutrition programs in law and another to make it harder for landlords to raise rents above provincial guidelines.
One political analyst says the government will continue to face public expectations to fulfil promises to improve health care and address inflation, despite its fiscal challenges and the effects of U.S. tariffs.
“I think there’s still a concern about affordability. I think there’s still the concern about health care, correcting problems in the health-care system,” said Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba.
Opinion polls have suggested Kinew’s New Democrats continue to enjoy strong support from voters.
The Opposition Progressive Conservatives are still rebuilding after losing the October 2023 election. They are to elect a new leader in April, after the resignation of former premier Heather Stefanson more than a year ago.
