News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

May 8, 2020

Manitoba Government Flowing Funding Faster to Municipalities

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Unconditional Operating Grants Allow Municipalities to Invest in Local Priorities: Squires

The province is speeding up the pace of funding to Manitoba municipalities to help with the unprecedented economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Municipal Relations Minister Rochelle Squires announced today.

“Many Manitobans are facing tough financial times and our government has committed to flowing faster a large portion of municipal funding grants in recognition of immediate pressures that municipalities are facing as a result of COVID-19,” said Squires. “We want to provide certainty to municipalities to help maintain critical essential services such as emergency personnel, even as we face unprecedented financial pressure as a provincial government.”

The province is flowing 75 per cent of its municipal operating grants directly to municipalities, with the remainder to be provided in the fall.

“These grants are considered unconditional and municipalities can utilize the funding according to local priorities,” said Squires. “I look forward to continued collaboration and partnership with municipalities, for the benefit of all Manitobans.”

This builds on the province’s earlier commitment to maintaining funding levels to municipalities as promised in Budget 2020.

In all, the province provides a total of $172.6 million in operating funding to municipalities as well a total of $137 million for municipal infrastructure, and funding for other strategic priorities such as policing, public safety and solid waste reduction.

“Municipalities are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting local communities and delivering essential services,” said Ralph Groening, president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. “Providing a larger portion of operating funding up front will certainly help alleviate the tremendous financial pressures on our members. We commend the Province of Manitoba for providing this timely assistance.”

Full details Restoring Safe Services: Manitoba’s Pandemic and Economic Roadmap to Recoveryare available at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restoring/ and businesses with questions on restoring their services should visit https://engagemb.ca.

Maintaining critical funding to municipalities is one of the ways the provincial government continues to support directly Manitoba communities. In March, the province announced nearly $8 million in one-time funding for spring flood preparedness projects in 83 municipalities.

Manitoba has invested more than $900 million under the Manitoba Protection Plan in the fight against COVID-19. In addition, the province has announced a number of measures in order to provide financial relief for Manitobans including:
•    Ensuring up to $110 million is returned to Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) policyholders. Rebates are expected to be around 11 per cent, or between $140 to $160 per average policyholder.
•    Providing up to $120 million to support Manitoba’s small and medium-sized businesses through the Manitoba Gap Protection Program (MGPP). The province will advance each eligible business the non-interest bearing forgivable MGPP loan of $6,000, for a total of up to $120 million.
•    Returning the $37-million Workers Compensation Board (WCB) surplus to eligible Manitoba employers. This month, eligible employers will receive a credit to their account based on
20 per cent of their 2019 premium. WCB expects $29 million will be returned to the private sector, with approximately $7 million going to small businesses in Manitoba.

For current information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19.

A comprehensive list of Manitoba government COVID-19 measures can be found at:
https://manitoba.ca/bg/2020/04/covid19.html.

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