Manitoba government boosts school funding, but formula overhaul has yet to come

WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government announced Monday an increase in school operating funding while saying a long-anticipated overhaul of the way schools are funded is still a work in progress.

The 3.4 per cent increase, for the school year that starts in September, matches the rate increase that took effect last fall. There is also a $6.8-million boost to the province’s $30-million school nutrition program.

“We’ve introduced some incremental changes this year,” said Tracy Schmidt, the minister for education and early childhood learning.

The NDP government is also tweaking its funding formula to help schools that face declining enrolment. Funding will now be based on the highest enrolment over a three-year period instead of the latest year. There is also a minimum one per cent increase for school divisions this year.

Manitoba’s school funding system has faced criticism because it relies partly on property taxes, which can make it harder for schools in poorer areas to raise funds.

The former Progressive Conservative government had promised to phase out education tax on property, although it did not spell out what would replace it.

Schmidt said the overhaul is ongoing and the government has revived an advisory group on the issue.

“We can all agree that the school funding formula needs some work — that the way that it exists today, without necessary adjustments, perpetuates somewhat we might call inequities,” Schmidt said.

The Opposition Progressive Conservatives accused the government of dragging its feet.

“Those who were hopeful for a revamped, more equitable education funding model for the province of Manitoba did not receive that today,” Grant Jackson, Tory education critic, said.

The Manitoba School Boards Association said it welcomes the additional funds this year.

“This is a good start. School boards are playing catchup from successive years of inadequate funding that transcends several governments,” said association president Sandy Nemeth.

The province also announced plans to build a new kindergarten-to-Grade 8 school in the Transcona area of Winnipeg. The building is to include 74 child-care spaces.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 10, 2025.

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press