ManitobaWinnipeg’s mayor says he is hopeful increased spending on infrastructure, housing and defence promised in the latest federal budget will be a boost to the city and its economy. ‘There’s certainly a couple of lines here that I’m really pleased to see,’ says Winnipeg mayorDave Baxter · CBC News · Posted: Nov 04, 2025 10:26 PM EST | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesThe federal budget released Tuesday says Mark Carney’s government plans to work to upgrade the Port of Churchill and the rail line to the northern community. (Cameron MacIntosh/CBC)Winnipeg’s mayor says he is hopeful increased spending on infrastructure, housing and defence promised in the latest federal budget will be a boost to the city and its economy. “There’s certainly a couple of lines here that I’m really pleased to see,” Mayor Scott Gillinghman told reporters at city hall on Tuesday, after the federal Liberal government released its latest budget, and the first under Prime Minister Mark Carney.The budget calls for a total of $141 billion in new spending over the next five years, which the feds say will partially be offset by some $51.2 billion in cuts and other savings.Gillinghman said he was happy to see that the budget promises $51 billion for infrastructure projects that the federal government hopes will spur development.Though the city’s North End sewage treatment plant is not specifically referenced in the budget, Gillingham says it’s crucial that some of that infrastructure money be used to fund the final phase of the plant’s upgrades.“That project is so critical to the future of Winnipeg,” he said. “It’s critical for us to be able to add more housing at a time when we need more housing, and it’s critical to our future economy. “There is a capacity issue there, so for us to open up Winnipeg’s economy in the future, we need to get that third phase built.”Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham spoke to reporters on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, after the federal government’s latest budget was released. (Josh Crabb/CBC)The total cost for the upgrades is expected to be around $3 billion. Gillingham said getting the third phase of the project — which would remove nutrients from the wastewater — completed will also be “critical to keeping water and sewer rates affordable for Winnipeggers.”The mayor says he recently had a meeting with federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson, where he made the case for the further federal funding for the upgrades. Gillingham is also hopeful that federal money for infrastructure can be utilized to fund other major projects in the city, including a planned expansion and widening of Kenaston Boulevard and the replacement of the St. James Bridge, as well as a planned westward extension of the Chief Peguis Trail.”Those are two very important infrastructure projects in the city of Winnipeg that are related to our city’s economy, related to trade, and are important to Winnipeg’s future,” he said. The budget also includes previously announced plans to dramatically scale up home construction through a new federal agency called Build Canada Homes.With an initial budget of $13 billion over five years, the government is projecting tens of thousands of units will be built through the agency. Gillingham is hopeful some of that money will help to boost development in Winnipeg. “The goal for us is to remove barriers to make sure that developers can build faster, because we need more housing,”he said. He also praised an $81-billion funding package for the Canadian Armed Forces — which includes a “buy Canadian” procurement plan.”Winnipeg is prepared to receive and act on defence investment,” he said. “We have the third-largest aerospace sector in all of Canada, and 17 Wing. We are prepared to accommodate and maximize defence investment.”Port of Churchill promisesThe federal budget will also make investments into the Riverview and the Dakota community centres in Winnipeg, with the feds saying further details on those projects, including final funding commitments, will be announced in the coming months.Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew told reporters Tuesday he was happy to see the federal budget reaffirm plans to invest in the Port of Churchill and related facilities. The budget says the federal government plans to work to upgrade the port and the rail line to the northern town, and to expand trade corridors with an all-weather road, a new energy corridor and marine icebreaking capacity. It gives no specific dollar figure on what that work could cost. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, seen in the legislature on Oct. 30, says he’s happy to see the new federal budget include promises for the Port of Churchill and related facilities. (Bryce Hoye/CBC)”The positive thing that we saw in this budget was Churchill being mentioned a whole lot, which gives us another sign of momentum that we’re going to build this big nation-building project here in Manitoba,” Kinew said.Manitoba Heavy Construction Association vice-president Felicia Wiltshire said the association is encouraged to see the budget promise infrastructure investment.”But I think, like everybody else, we’re going to wait to see what the details are, what exactly they’re going to be investing in, where those funds are going, and then how much is available for Manitoba,” Wiltshire said. The $51-billion promise “sounds like a lot of money, but it’s going to depend on what they’re investing in,” she said.ABOUT THE AUTHORDave Baxter is an award-winning reporter and editor currently working for CBC Manitoba. Born and raised in Winnipeg, he has also previously reported for the Winnipeg Sun and the Winnipeg Free Press, as well as several rural Manitoba publications.With files from Josh Crabb and Karen Pauls
Premier, Winnipeg mayor hopeful promises in federal budget translate to boost for Manitoba economy
