Federal budget, transit on the agenda as Trudeau visits Manitoba

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has a busy day planned Wednesday, during his visit to Manitoba to promote his government’s new budget.

Among Trudeau’s stops in Winnipeg:  a meeting with students to highlight budget measures, a meeting with trade workers and apprentices, and a Passover celebration with members of the city’s Jewish community.

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In an appearance at the U of M’s Faculty of Engineering , Trudeau talked about the 2023 budget’s clean energy investments.

“The clean technology manufacturing tax credit will provide up to 30 per cent, support for investments in new machinery and equipment for clean tech, and for the resources like critical minerals that go into them,” he said.

“And while you’re still in school, we’re also helping to make things more affordable. We’re increasing Canada Student Grants by 40 per cent.”

The prime minister also mentioned other supports for students, includes raising Canada’s student loan limit and eliminating interest.

Manitobans, he said, will receive their spring climate action incentive cheques later this week.

“This is how we return the proceeds of pollution pricing directly to families,” Trudeau said.

“A family of four here will get $264 every three months, for a total of $1,056 this year alone.”

Trudeau is also expected to meet with Winnipeg mayor Scott Gillingham, with transit likely to be one of the topics on the agenda.

Trudeau told 680 CJOB’s The Start that federal dollars were left on the table during previous relationships with both the city and province — something he doesn’t want to happen again.

“Things are better now with (Manitoba premier) Heather Stefanson, but there’s still a lot of work to do,” he said.

“We are there to be partners in investing in public transit for Winnipeg, we just need to be sure that the projects move forward.”

The prime minister also has some work to do in the coming months in a pair of vacant Manitoba ridings.

A byelection must be called by June 11 for Winnipeg South Centre after the death in December of Liberal MP Jim Carr.

Trudeau must also call a byelection by Aug. 27 in the southern Manitoba riding of Portage-Lisgar — a seat previously held by MP and interim Conservative Party leader Candice Bergen, who resigned on Feb. 28.

With files from The Canadian Press

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