The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is applauding the Manitoba government for balancing the budget in 2022, according to the newly released public accounts.

“The government deserves credit for balancing the budget,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “Now its time to set up a plan to pay back the debt and make sure Manitoba stays in the black.”

Budget 2022 originally projected a $548 million deficit. The public accounts now show the year ended with a $270 million surplus. That’s an $818 million improvement compared to the budget.

The surplus comes from an increase of $1.9 billion more in revenue than the budget projected. However, expenses also increased by $1.1 billion.

Provincial government debt now sits at $30.3 billion, a decrease of $281 million compared to the budget. Interest charges cost taxpayers $1.9 billion last year.

This is the first surplus the Manitoba government has achieved since 2019.

“The government needs to keep this progress rolling,” said Haubrich. “Taxpayers can’t afford to have the government waste anymore of their money on debt interest charges.”