The Manitoba Budget 2020 will see the provincial government proceed with commitments to infrastructure investment made in the 2019 fall election campaign, Finance Minister Scott Fielding says.
Fielding met with some MHCA Executive Committee members Wednesday, in a pre-budget consultation.
The government intends to keep its promise to increase the Highways Capital program from $350 million. The Progressive Conservatives have said highways funding would rise to $400 million over the next four years.
Fielding discussed the merits of long-term core infrastructure investment plans, including an annual and five-year budget for highways, a 10-year strategic investment vision and reviewing the current way in which infrastructure is funded with an eye to elevating return on that investment to Manitoba’s GDP.
“We had a very good exchange with the Minister and stressed that the industry is optimistic about the government’s focus on economic growth and job creation in this, its second term in office,” MHCA President Chris Lorenc said.
The provincial government’s budget is expected in March.