Manitoba Government Invests Additional $29.2 Million to Protect Children and Support Child Welfare Services

Press Release

April 14, 2026

The Manitoba government is increasing funding for the child and family services (CFS) system to strengthen supports for children, youth and families across the province, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine announced today.

“Keeping children safe and helping them thrive is a sacred responsibility,” said Fontaine. “This increase will help ensure children, youth and families get the supports they need, while strengthening the work of keeping more children connected to their families, kin and communities. We know the child and family services system needs more support than the previous government was willing to provide, and our team is taking action to support agencies, caregivers and frontline workers who do this vital work every day.”

The Manitoba government will direct an additional $29.2 million to the CFS system in 2026-27, including:

• $18.9 million toward the rising cost of providing care and services, as well as the number of children, youth and families supported;
• $3.1 million to support agency worker wages; and
• $7.2 million to continue enhanced supports for caregivers through increased basic maintenance rates.

This increase brings total funding for CFS services delivered through authorities, agencies and Indigenous jurisdiction to $458 million.

Since 2023, the Manitoba government has increased funding to the CFS system each year to respond to pressures identified by agencies and authorities, and has invested in priorities supporting stronger outcomes for children and families.

Consistent with the Manitoba government’s commitment to reconciliation and the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples over their own children, this includes funding to support shared objectives like placement priority for customary- and kinship-care agreements to create a strong foundation for transition as First Nations reclaim jurisdiction over child welfare. The Manitoba government will continue working alongside Indigenous leadership, First Nations and CFS authorities to support the transition of services under the Child and Family Services Act to Indigenous service providers.

These investments bring a total of $77.3M in increased funding to Manitoba’s CFS system since 2023-24.

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For more information:

• Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: mgi@gov.mb.ca or 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
• Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca.
• Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Cabinet Communications: cabcom@manitoba.ca.

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