Today is budget day in Manitoba and the provincial government says they are taking the economic effects of the coronavirus into consideration.
Premier Brian Pallister says scenarios will be outlined including reduced economic growth and what that could mean for the province.
In order to be prepared, should the coronavirus come to Manitoba, the government has spent 35 million dollars to bring in personal protective supplies such as gloves, face masks, shields, and hand sanitizer.
Manitoba still doesn’t have any confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Since the government has added hundreds of millions of dollars to the rainy-day fund, Pallister says the province is in a better position than it was a few years ago.
Opposition N-D-P Leader Wab Kinew says Pallister's focus on tax and spending cuts is hurting the province.
The Manitoba government also will be increasing the salary threshold for the province’s payroll tax.
The tax currently applies to employers who spend more than 1.25 million dollars on salaries every year, but come January, that will be bumped up to 1.5 million dollars.
This is the first time since 2007 the tax has seen an increase.
Critics of the payroll tax say it stifles job creation and makes Manitoba less competitive.
The government has already announced the PST will be reduced to 6 per cent.
