A look at some highlights in Manitoba’s provincial budget released Tuesday

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba government released its 2017-18 budget on Tuesday. Here is a look a some of the highlights:

— No increases to personal or business taxes.

— Department spending increases are being held at or near the rate of inflation: 1.8 per cent for health; 1.1 per cent for education.

— Tuition fee income-tax rebate for post-secondary graduates who stay to work in Manitoba — worth up to $2,500 a year per person — to be phased out by 2018.

— Primary caregiver tax credit for people looking after relatives in their homes capped at $1,400 a year.

— Research and Development Tax Credit for scientific development reduced to 15 per cent from 20.

— Maximum tax credit for political contributions to increase next year to $1,000 from $650.

— Province to help create 501 new licensed child-care spaces and 50 home-based spaces.

— Government predicting an overall deficit of $840 million — $32 million less than last year.