minister – Winnipeg Free Press

The Manitoba government is cutting the capital budget for highway infrastructure by about $57 million this year, but insists it's not a cut and ongoing projects won't be interrupted.

The opposition Tories have repeatedly targeted the budget for provincial roads and highways since it was announced on April 2, while suggesting projects could be delayed or canceled.

“Absolutely not,” said Transport and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor Free press Tuesday. “We spend every dollar. We are transparent – that's the difference.

Budget 2024 has allocated $500 million for highway infrastructure, down from $557 million under the Tories in the last financial year.

Naylor claimed it wasn't a real cut. He said the Progressive Conservatives underspent millions in the 2023-24 fiscal year and cut the infrastructure budget during their two terms in government.

“Last year the (Tory) government committed $500 million to highway infrastructure. We are doing the same,” he said.

PC infrastructure critic Konrad Narth disagrees with the minister.

Nart, who was elected last fall, said: “The truth of the matter is that there is a reduction from last year's budget to this year's budget.”

Nart said previous NDP governments have underspent on infrastructure. Pointing to last year's underspending under the Tories, he said there were commitments to projects that were “inappropriately timed”.

“We spend every dollar. We are transparent – that's the difference.– Transport and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure's total capital budget for 2024-2025 is $540 million, down from $704 million the previous year. Within it, the budget for water-related infrastructure was reduced by about 104 million dollars.

The increased operating budget contributed approximately $8 million in additional funding to increase highway maintenance, including 24-7 operations on the perimeter highway around Winnipeg.

Naylor said the NDP is using the five-year infrastructure strategy announced by the PC last year, but it will consider new projects based on economic development opportunities or other needs.

According to him, soon a tender will be announced for the study of the functional design of highways No. 1 and 5. A junction north of Carberry will be redesigned to improve safety after 17 elderly people were killed in a collision between a van and a tractor-trailer on June 15. 2023.

Repairs to southbound Highway 75, a major trade corridor between Manitoba and the U.S. that were left unfinished last year, will be completed this June, the province says.

A provincial spokesperson said about $17 million has been budgeted to complete the projects between Ste. Continue actual restoration work between Agate and Morris and between Morris and the Canada-US border.

The Kinyu government's first budget allocated a lot of money to areas such as health and efforts to address social issues.

According to Chris Lorenz, president and CEO of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association, infrastructure cuts usually happen when there is a change of government.

“Not having any hits was a good sign,” he said.

“Not having any hits was a good sign.”– Chris Lorenk, CEO of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association

Lorenc wants the NDP to be the first government in Manitoba to release a report on the condition of the province's highways and bridges, including cost estimates for upgrades and a long-term outlook.

This will allow to improve the condition of the roads, increase the economy and plan and prepare the industry, he said.

“In short, it allows us to be more competitive,” said Lorenz, a member of the government's new infrastructure advisory group tasked with prioritizing projects.

He said the government's early commitments, including plans to invest in CentrePort Canada Inc. and a deep-sea port in Churchill, are signs of a “deeper and truer commitment to the importance of infrastructure” in Manitoba.

Located in Winnipeg and the RM of Rosser, CentrePort Canada is North America's largest trimodal inland port (air, rail and road) and foreign trade hub.

Gage Haubrich, prairie director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said Manitobans have expectations regarding the condition and safety of public highway infrastructure.

“This is one of the things that the taxpayers are focusing on is cutting spending,” he said. “Roads are a good area to spend money.

“Everyone uses the roads and making them safer is important to everyone.”

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Chris Kitching
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As a general reporter, Chris covers a little bit of everything for the Free Press.

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