Province calls latest budget 'good news' for Winnipeg; mayor says it leaves questions unanswered

Winnipeg didn't get what Mayor Brian Bowman said he wanted from Manitoba's latest budget.

For months, Bowman and provincial cabinet ministers have engaged in a war of words over provincial funding for Winnipeg's infrastructure.

That dispute showed no signs of ending on Thursday, as Manitoba tabled its 2019-20 budget.

"There is still more questions that we have, unfortunately," Bowman told reporters at the Manitoba Legislature on Thursday.

Enough with the drama — we want to get things done.- Finance Minister Scott Fielding

Finance Minister Scott Fielding says the province has set aside up to $113 million in capital funds for the city in its latest budget — a figure he said will help pay for bus rapid transit, the Waverley underpass and the city's major roads.

Operating funding for the city, though, remains flat, Bowman said.

He praised the province for continuing its commitment to the regional roads program, but was quick to note the capital funding promised by Manitoba represents "IOUs."

"[They're] existing commitments. What they haven't done is identify or indicate they are going to fill the hole in the 2018-19 roads budget for the city of Winnipeg," he said.

The city claims the province has failed to produce $40 million of road renewal money that was promised for 2018. In response, the city reduced spending on roads by $30 million in its budget, delivered last week.

"That's obviously a challenge," Bowman said, adding this budget doesn't fill that gap.

Capital funding up 30%: Fielding

Fielding, however, called the province's spending plan "good news" for Winnipeg, noting his government has increased capital funding to the city by 30 per cent over last year.

"Quite frankly, there has been a lot of drama with this city-funding issue," he said, noting the province has pledged to meet its financial obligations for rapid transit, the underpass and the city's major roads.

"Enough with the drama — we want to get things done."

Fielding said Thursday's provincial budget should be no surprise for the mayor, who received a letter from Premier Brian Pallister outlining the capital funding the city would receive in the coming fiscal year.

The basket funding available for all municipalities and related grants — which is where the $113 million is drawn from — remains flat in this budget, at $313 million.