Manitoba’s government is rolling out more than $100 million in financial support aimed at helping businesses weather the impact of the ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the United States.
Jobs Minister Jamie Moses said the package combines low-interest loans, wage subsidies and a four-month tax deferral as companies across the province confront rising costs and growing uncertainty over access to international markets.
At the centre of the measures is a new $50-million loan program intended to help businesses cover gaps in payroll and operating expenses. The initiative comes in addition to an existing $50-million loan program focused on supporting export growth.
The province is also expanding loan guarantee programs for the agricultural sector. Manitoba has further committed to working directly with honey producers, who have been particularly affected, to develop targeted support for the industry.
“We continue to work by listening to manufacturers, exporters, agricultural producers and Manitobans about the rising costs, and the access to markets around the world, and the uncertainty that the tariffs have caused,” Moses said.
According to the minister, the provincial measures are intended to complement the $7.5 billion in tariff-related support announced by the federal government, while addressing gaps that businesses may still face.
However, the package has drawn criticism from Manitoba’s Opposition Progressive Conservative leader, Obby Khan. He described the NDP government’s announcement as “half-thought, half-baked,” arguing that it does not provide enough assistance to businesses struggling under the pressure of the trade dispute.
Khan said companies need longer-term measures, including lower taxes and reduced regulation, rather than relying primarily on loans.
“Some of the things off the top of my head would be long-term relief, not a loan. How do we actually direct support for these businesses so that those businesses can weather this storm for however long it may be.”
The latest measures come after the United States imposed 50 per cent tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Canadian exports last Saturday, following the collapse of trade talks between the two countries.
Canada has responded with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products, which are set to take effect on Sept. 8.
