Manitoba's NDP government caught in fiscal squeeze during first year

Manitoba's NDP government, approaching the first anniversary of its election victory, is facing a fiscal squeeze as it tries to fulfil promises to cut living costs, give more money to public sector workers and eliminate chronic deficits.

Manitoba's NDP government, approaching the first anniversary of its election victory, is facing a fiscal squeeze as it tries to fulfil promises to cut living costs, give more money to public sector workers and eliminate chronic deficits.

Premier Wab Kinew says some fiscal restraint will be coming.

"I think the average Manitoban right now is looking at their family budget and they're making tough choices because of inflation about tightening the belt," Kinew said in an interview.

"And I think Manitobans should expect that their provincial government is going to be going through the same hard work so that we can deliver responsible government for you."

Having delivered on some tax-cut promises and spending commitments, the government is now working on issues including where spending can be contained.

"We basically reverse-engineer from there -- how do we get to balance? And I can tell you that there's a significant amount of work being done to articulate that path to balance," Kinew said.

A political analyst said the government will be hard-pressed to meet its campaign pledge to balance the budget in its first term, given its spending promises.