The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the Manitoba government to rein in spending after the First Quarter Fiscal Update shows the provincial government already spending more than budgeted.

“Increased revenues should be used to lower borrowing, not spend more money,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “When the government faces unexpected costs like wildfires or floods, the right thing to do is to find savings in other areas.”

The Manitoba government is taking in $294 million more in revenue compared to the budget this year. The increased revenue is coming from higher-than-expected income tax revenues and a higher net income than expected from Manitoba Hydro.

The government is also spending about $277 million more than it budgeted this year. The increased spending is attributed to flooding and wildfire costs.

The government is increasing the debt to more than $38 billion by the end of the year. That’s an increase of more than $1.5 billion compared to last year.

Debt interest charges will cost taxpayers about $2.4 billion this year.

“Taxpayers can’t afford for Premier Wab Kinew to keep wasting billions of dollars per year on debt interest payments,” Haubrich said. “Instead of spending money as fast as it comes in, the government needs a real plan to control spending, find savings and start to pay down the debt.”