The Manitoba government introduced its 2026 budget on March 24, 2026, marking the third consecutive year of increased funding for municipal governments across the province. For residents of Morris, the provincial plan includes commitments to infrastructure upgrades, continued support for the agricultural sector, and a new tax relief measure on grocery items.
Finance Minister Adrien Sala presented the budget, which raises base municipal funding by nearly $6 million, bringing the total to $198 million for the 2026-27 period. When factoring in all municipal grant programs, the total provincial support for local governments reaches $473.5 million. This announcement is part of a broader provincial strategy that includes a record $3.8 billion in capital investments for projects such as roads, hospitals, and community infrastructure.
Local infrastructure remains a priority, with planned work set for Provincial Trunk Highway 75 near Morris. This includes structure renewal at the Morris River and surface reconstruction along sections of the highway. Additionally, the budget allocates $22 million specifically for the Pembina Valley Water Co-op to support water and wastewater projects in the region.
For those living in Morris and working in the agricultural sector, the government is maintaining $143.7 million for various support programs, including AgriInsurance, AgriStability, AgriInvest, and Wildlife Damage Compensation. Furthermore, the province is freezing Crown land lease rates for the third straight year at $3.66 per animal unit per month to provide cost stability for producers.
Cost relief for households is also included in the budget, with the removal of the provincial sales tax from all grocery food items effective July 1, 2026. This change applies to items previously subject to the tax, such as rotisserie chickens, sandwiches, and various snack foods. According to the provincial government, Manitoba currently maintains the lowest deficit-to-gross domestic product ratio in Canada while working toward a balanced budget within four years.
