The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is warning the Manitoba government that runaway bureaucratic growth is unsustainable for taxpayers. The government of Manitoba has hired 1,965 new employees in its first year, costing taxpayers about $113 million annually, according to documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

“Taxpayers can’t afford the government’s increasing bureaucrat bill,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “Balancing the budget means making the government smaller, not spending more on its largest expense.”

The Manitoba government hired 1,965 new employees from October 2023 to the end of October 2024, at an annual cost of $113 million according to the documents.

Premier Wab Kinew’s government was elected on Oct. 3, 2023.

The number of Manitoba government employees earning more than $100,000 per year has increased by 83 per cent since 2020, from 12,320 to 22,496 employees.

The average government employee earns 8.5 per cent more than those who work in the private sector. Manitoba government employees also retire 2.1 years earlier and are less likely to lose their job compared to average Manitobans.

Paying employees is the largest line item of the government’s budget. The government spent $9.2 billion paying employees last year, making up 42 per cent of total government spending.

The government is currently a projecting a $1.3 billion deficit this year. Interest charges on government debt will cost taxpayers $2.3 billion this year.

Finance Minister Adrien Sala maintains that the budget will be balanced in 2027.

“It’s impossible to the balance the budget while adding hundreds of millions of dollars to the government wage bill every year,” Haubrich said. “Instead of using taxpayers’ money to hire new employees, the government needs to focus on saving money, not spending it.”