As Manitoba’s only medical-doctoral university, UM welcomes the province’s ongoing support for post-secondary education and its recognition of the university’s role in addressing provincial priorities, including health care and agricultural research. 

The operating grant allocation also includes $2.3 million in continued support for critical health programs, including those that train nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical psychologists—helping to strengthen Manitoba’s health workforce. 

“We appreciate the Manitoba government’s continued investment in the University of Manitoba,” says Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor. “This funding supports our ability to offer high-quality education, drive research innovation, and train the professionals our province needs now and in the future.” 

The Province is also investing in key capital priorities for UM, including: 

• $10 million to support the construction of a new building at Bannatyne Campus to accommodate the expansion of undergraduate medical education, helping to train more doctors in Manitoba. This is the second installment towards Manitoba’s $40 million commitment.  

• $3.9 million for the Prairie Crops and Soils Research Facility, supporting critical agricultural research. 

• $4.5 million to address deferred maintenance projects, ensuring campus infrastructure remains functional and sustainable. 

The University of Manitoba generates $7.3 billion in total static and dynamic economic activity, with every provincial dollar invested at UM yielding a $4.10 return. 

UM recognizes the fiscal challenges faced by the province and the broader uncertainties in Canada’s post-secondary sector. Sustainable and predictable investments in operations and infrastructure remain essential for UM to continue delivering exceptional learning experiences and groundbreaking research. 

UM is currently reviewing the details of the provincial budget and will move forward with finalizing its 2025-26 budget, which will be presented to the Board of Governors in May and subsequently shared with the broader community. 

Finance Minister Adrien Sala says the increased deficit in the mid-year fiscal update is partly due to overspending in health care.

Jim Toth on 680 CJOB invited Asper School of Business professor of finance, Dr. Yik Au on his show this week to discuss if the provincial deficit is manageable and as the government said this week, they will be able to achieve a balanced budget in a couple of years?

To listen to the full conversation, please follow the link to 680 CJOB. 

“I’m still not clear on the budgetary path that they claim that they’ve set for themselves and how they’re going to get there,” Paul Thomas, professor emeritus of political studies at the University of Manitoba, said Tuesday.

The government’s fiscal update, released Monday, showed spending is forecast to end up $475 million over budget, driven primarily by health costs. That has increased the projected deficit for the current fiscal year to $1.3 billion, up from the $796 million originally predicted in the spring budget.

To read the entire article, please follow the link to The Canadian Press. 

As Manitoba’s only medical-doctoral university, UM welcomes the province’s commitments to health care education and at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. The provincial government has committed $26.6 million for more medical doctor training seats. Investments are critical to ensuring the province can implement a robust and home-grown response to Manitoba’s health workforce needs.

“The University of Manitoba – its students, researchers, and alumni – has a significant impact on the economic and social prosperity of the province,” says Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor. “Our university has a plan to address our province’s health care challenges and we look forward to working with the government to achieve this, together.”

The University of Manitoba generates $7.3 billion in total static and dynamic economic activity. Every dollar spent by the provincial government at UM generates a return of $4.10. “The University of Manitoba is the university for Manitoba. The ideas, solutions and talents developed on campus will generate positive returns for our province for years to come, adds Benarroch.

“We know if there are increased investments in research, UM can continue to attract the best and brightest to develop innovations that will make an impact on the global stage.”

UM recognizes that the provincial government is facing a number of fiscal challenges. The post-secondary sector in Canada is also facing an uncertain environment, but for UM to remain the university for Manitoba, it must continue to provide high-quality learning, research opportunities and be accessible to all Manitobans. UM will continue to work with the province and other levels of government for sustainable and predictable investments for operations and infrastructure.

UM is now reviewing budget information received from the Province of Manitoba. Following that, it will move forward with finalizing UM’s 2024-25 budget which goes to the Board of Governors for approval in May and will subsequently be shared with the broader community.

“The research being done alongside advertising helps ensure that the advertising is effective — and cost effective — and is reaching Manitobans in a way that resonates with them,” Finance Minister Adrien Sala’s office said in a written statement.

A political analyst said these kinds of political ads have been done by parties of all stripes.

“What it brings to mind is advertising after provincial budgets. We saw the Conservatives do that after each of (their) budgets, and the NDP used to do it as well,” Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba, said Monday.

“Whether it’s something that should be done is another question. Because the gasoline tax cut by the province is happening, whether you’re aware of it or not. So it’s more of a public relations exercise for the provincial government.”

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“Normally, budget consultations serve as a means to verify and promote the government’s agenda, as opposed to generating new ideas or meaningful changes to the budget plan,” University of Manitoba economics assistant Prof. Jesse Hajer said Tuesday.

“But this is not a typical year.”

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