Show us the money. Or, Election 2026 blog post #4.

 

First, let’s be unequivocal: Manitoba’s model—allowing school boards to raise revenue locally through education property taxes—is a vital asset. A game-changer. It grants local autonomy, and I am genuinely grateful for a system that remains the envy of jurisdictions across Canada.

However, local taxation cannot, and should not, bear the burden for what would be a fundamentally different and short-changed education experience for students if we only had current government funding to rely on.

Years of education funding austerity paired with skyrocketing labour and material costs forces hard choices on school boards every budget cycle.  Delaying critical maintenance saves money today but dramatically increases costs down the road. Replacements, repairs, upgrades, and additions cannot wait forever—and every year of delay means the cost goes up.

Additionally, in Louis Riel School Division rapid growth demands urgent action. Our publicly available facility plan outlines critical space requirements through 2034, detailing mandatory additions, accessibility upgrades, modernizations, and new builds.

These are not discretionary wants; they are operational needs.

Infrastructure is only part of the equation. Meeting daily operational demands—fair staff compensation, transportation safety, and direct classroom support—requires sustained funding. Supporting student success remains our core mission, but delivering on that promise requires adequate provincial investment.

Year-over-year operational pressures demand year-over-year provincial commitment at an adequate level to address these needs—and that is precisely why this issue must be kept at the top of the agenda with our partners in government.  Conversations, planning, forecasting; it’s work I remain committed to doing.