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Surging costs in health care have forced the Manitoba government to once again find money for unbudgeted expenditures.<\/p>\n
The province approved a $200 million special warrant to handle health-care costs not accounted for in the last budget but “required for the public good,” according to an order in council dated last week.<\/p>\n
Finance Minister Adrien Sala says the extra spending reflects the NDP’s efforts to shore up the health-care system.<\/p>\n
“Health care is an estimated $9-billion [annual] budget, around there. This [special warrant] represents in this fiscal year, I think, our success in staffing up and getting to 3,500 net new health-care workers” since entering office in late 2023, he said. <\/p>\n
Specifically, $150 million of that special warrant will cover physicians\u2019 fee-for-service, the model in which doctors and hospitals are paid by the province for every office visit, test or operation that\u2019s conducted.<\/p>\n
Rising prices, volumes<\/p>\n
Recent fee-for-service pressures include rising prices and volumes in general practice, radiology, internal medicine, pediatrics and surgery, as well as medical claims from Ukrainian refugees.<\/p>\n
An extra $20 million will cover the province\u2019s costs related to the national pharmacare and rare disease drug programs, and $30 million is tied to the completion of large capital projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The additional $200 million in emergency funds comes on top of the $1.04 billion sought last December, which was largely driven by added funding for Manitoba Hydro’s operations and other health costs. The money is drawn from the province’s consolidated fund.<\/p>\n
Manitoba needs additional funds as it grapples with a projected deficit this fiscal year of $1.6 billion, more than double<\/a> the original projection.<\/p>\n Much of the extra red ink is attributed to the drought conditions that led to wildfires, and low water levels sinking Manitoba Hydro’s revenues. <\/p>\n Cost pressures in the health department have driven other special warrant asks.<\/p>\n In addition to the $1.04 billion approved in late 2025, the province also sought $405 million in February, mainly to cover health care.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771609809_204_default.jpg\")
The rising cost of health care is often why the Manitoba government needs money in addition to the budget. (Chris Young\/The Canadian Press)<\/p>\n