Manitoba budget sets aside $1.26B for infrastructure
Greg Dewar to table his 1st budget as finance minister this afternoon
CBC News has learned that Manitoba's NDP government has set aside $1.26 billion in the 2015 budget, which will be tabled today, to improve infrastructure across the province.
Government sources say the plan will create 12,000 jobs this year.
It's part of the province's previously announced $5.5-billion five-year infrastructure plan.
The government has said its focus will be on creating jobs and growing the economy, not on balancing the books.
Late last week, Finance Minister Greg Dewar said the government will run a deficit for the next two years, and it does not intend on balancing the budget until 2018.
Promises to halt deficit spending have already been broken twice. In the 2011 election, Premier Greg Selinger promised to balance the books this year. Earlier this week, the premier didn't rule out raising taxes.
CBC News will provide full coverage online, on radio and on television as Dewar presents his first budget as finance minister on Thursday afternoon.