WINNIPEG -- Manitoba's finance minister says Thursday's budget will focus on job creation and supporting people affected by U.S. tariffs.
Adrien Sala says the annual spending plan will include building projects that put people to work and boost the economy.
He says there will essentially be two budgets -- a regular one and a contingency one to deal with the impact of tariffs on Manitoba goods.
Sala says the NDP government remains committed to balancing the budget before the next provincial election, expected in 2027.
Political analyst Paul Thomas with the University of Manitoba says that seems to be an uphill battle, as the province has run a string of deficits.
The projected deficit for the fiscal year that ends this month has jumped to $1.3 billion from the $796 million originally predicted, largely due to cost overruns in health care.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2025