In Manitoba, expectations high for federal budget

Additional funding for the Port of Churchill Plus project, more social housing and improvements to First Nations health services are among Manitoba organizations’ wishes ahead of Thursday’s federal budget.

While advocates gathered outside his Corydon Avenue constituency office Wednesday, Liberal MP Ben Carr told the Free Press the budget will contain “significant investments” for Winnipeg in relation to social housing.

“I have been myself advocating very strongly for many of the issues that I know they intend to raise, and I’m confident they are going to be satisfied with the measures the federal government will be taking in the budget,” Carr (Winnipeg South Centre) said from Ottawa.

About 15 people delivered hundreds of postcards, signed by Manitobans, to his office to call on the federal Liberals to build more social housing units in the province.

The Social Housing and Human Rights Coalition wants Ottawa to earmark $20 billion to create at least 50,000 net new accessible rent-geared-to-income units across Canada each year for 10 years, and to add and maintain public, non-profit, and co-operative-owned housing for people who are in core housing need or homeless.

Lynne Fernandez of the Right to Housing Coalition, a member of the national coalition, said 10,000 new social housing units are needed in Manitoba for people such as seniors. The group asked the Manitoba government to fund at least 1,000 per year for 10 years.

“They do need help from the federal government to meet that,” Fernandez said. “When we say social housing, we mean rent-geared-to-income so that renters are not paying more than 30 per cent of their income on their rent.”

Many Manitobans will look to Ottawa for measures to help ease day-to-day costs, boost the economy or strengthen job security. Business owners will look for relief, while U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war continues to hurt the economy.

Ottawa, meanwhile, announced Oct. 30 it will provide $500 million to help complete the major upgrade to Winnipeg’s North End sewage treatment plant.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said the federal government has been a “good partner” on that project and others, including housing.

“There are many other files we need continued help with — homelessness, addiction, public safety, ongoing infrastructure investments,” he said, noting the proposal to widen part of Kenaston Boulevard.

A good working relationship between municipal, provincial, federal and Indigenous governments is critical to tackling the city’s challenges, Gillingham said.

“What we hear from Manitobans is that they want an affordable life and quality health care,” a provincial government spokesperson said in a statement.

“We continue to work with the federal government to lower the cost of living for families, shorten ER wait times and build Manitoba’s economy.”

Dozens of Manitoba organizations submitted funding requests or other recommendations to the House of Commons finance committee during pre-budget consultations.

Arctic Gateway Group’s submission proposed more than $950 million in multi-year funding for upgrades to the Hudson Bay Railway line and related work as part of the Port of Churchill Plus project.

The Indigenous-led company, which owns and operates the railway and the deep-sea port in Manitoba’s northernmost town, has said about $1.5 billion is needed to seamlessly connect the route with class one rail lines by 2030.

AGG, which is also seeking private investment, and the Manitoba government have championed the port expansion amid the U.S.-Canada trade war.

“Our federal budget submission is about building a modern northern trade corridor that diversifies Canada’s access to new markets, moves more western Canadian commodities through the Port of Churchill and supports Canada’s national goal to diversify and double non-U.S. trade,” AGG spokesman Brad Hartle said in a statement.

He said the railway is in its best condition ever and the company is shipping the most diversified mix of commodities in the port’s history.

“That progress demonstrates our potential, and realizing the next stage requires upgrading the railway to modern industrial weight standards and laying the groundwork for year-round shipping to accommodate greater import and export volumes,” Hartle said.

The Manitoba Business Council has been encouraged by Ottawa’s focus on productivity and private-sector investment, said Kate Doer, vice-president of policy.

“Now, it’s more about the implementation and making sure these incentives actually translate into businesses investing, growing and creating jobs in Canada and Manitoba,” she said.

That includes the productivity mega-deduction Carney announced in September to spur investment and expansion.

Expected to cost $36 billion over five years, starting with Thursday’s budget, the measure will allow businesses to deduct the full amount of expenditures on goods, including machinery and new technologies.

A submission by the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba requested $2.5 million in annual increments over five years for an ongoing strategy to return birthing practices to First Nations communities and improve outcomes.

— With files from Joyanne Pursaga

chris.kitching@winnipegfreepress.com