Minnedosa Tribune
EARLY BIRDS
DARRELL NESBITT/MINNEDOSA TRIBUNE
The warmth of the bright sunshine and the rippling waters of the Little Saskatchewan River basin down from the outlet of the Minnedosa Dam attracted a small flock of Canada geese on the morning of Friday, March 27. A few days later, the honks and noise were much louder, as ruffled feathers were found thanks to the snow accumulations blanketing the community and region as March went out like a lion.
Budget 2026 receives mixed reviews
The release of the 2026 Manitoba Provincial Budget last week reveals a fiscal plan defined more by established programs than by new local development for this region.
In a Budget that has received mixed reviews, the provincial government has highlighted multimillion-dollar investments in car-
diac care and new emergency rooms in the Interlake, but the impact on this corner of the province remains focused on existing agricultural supports and broad tax shifts.
Despite a provincial capital budget of $3.8 billion, there are no major new highway or bridge projects slated for this immediate area in 2026. Instead, the budget relies on a two percent increase in basic municipal operating funding
to address local needs. For area councils, this means the responsibility for maintaining regional roads and bridges continues to fall under existing grants rather than new provincial initiatives.
The most significant regional health investment remains the ongoing construction of the hospital in Neepawa, offering a closer regional option for specialized care and larger surgeries.
The most universal change for
residents will be the removal of the PST from all grocery items starting July 1. Exempt from PST now includes prepared foods such as rotisserie chickens and sandwiches – which may offer small, minor but needed relief.
However, the budget also confirms that personal income tax brackets and the Basic Personal Amount (BPA) will not be adjusted for inflation this year. This means that even if a worker re-
ceives a cost-of-living raise, the tax-free portion of their income stays the same, then pushes more of their paycheck into a higher tax bracket as wages rise. Additionally, while the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit is set at $1,600 for 2026, it will become strictly targeted starting in 2027, phasing out for the credit for high value properties.
Carolyn Arndt Branch Manager
RACHEAL FLINTOFT
Minnedosa Tribune