Pallister says fiscal restraint will continue

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says his Progressive Conservative government’s upcoming budget will cut income taxes and ambulance fees, while also moving the province further toward a balanced budget.

And although the province will be getting more money from federal equalization payments and a new provincial carbon tax slated to take effect this year, Pallister says his efforts on fiscal restraint — including cuts to some services — are not over.

“I think that maintaining fiscal discipline, balancing a budget ... is a job that’s never done,” Pallister told The Canadian Press.

“We have an obligation to maintain a responsible and strong government that makes Manitobans confident that their finances are going to be more stable ... that their services are going to be safer, more secure. And that’s not a today challenge, and it’s over, and suddenly there’s good news coming out.”

Last year, the Tories began tying tax brackets and the basic personal exemption — the amount of money people can earn before they start paying income tax — to the rate of inflation. Manitoba’s basic personal exemption is $9,271, the lowest rate west of Prince Edward Island.

Pallister said the March 12 budget will raise the exemption faster than inflation as a step toward putting Manitoba’s exemption close to the national average. That was a promise in the 2016 election.

The budget will also put up more health-care money so that ambulance fees can be further reduced, Pallister said. The Tories campaigned on a promise to halve the fees, which ranged up to $500, and have made some progress on that file.

“We want Manitobans to get the care they need, especially when it’s an emergency,” Pallister said.

The premier has some financial wiggle room as he tries to keep his promises and reduce Manitoba’s $779-million deficit. Equalization payments from Ottawa are set to jump $217 million this year. The carbon tax slated for later this year is expected to raise another $260 million annually.

The province will also get a slice of tax revenue on marijuana once recreational cannabis is legalized.