Morden-Winkler MLA Cameron Friesen says the NDP Government's decision to not issue a budget before the April election suggests their hiding something. He explains the government has made hundreds of millions of dollars in financial promises but it appears none of that money has been legitimized in a budget.

"We need to keep in mind that the budget is done," said the PC finance critic. "The NDP government has it, they just don't want to release it. If they had good news to share in the budget they would bring it. No government hides good news so it must be that they are once again hiding the bad news about their true economic performance from Manitobans."

Friesen suggests the Selinger government made a total of 113 spending announcements in the weeks before the media blackout in January, but there were no numbers attached to those promises.

"There must be numbers, someone must have got the calculator out and crunched these numbers. By our count, all those promises, including the ones made in the throne speech, add up in excess of $6 billion. Someone has to pay for all of that. I believe the government is trying to have the best of both worlds where they promise everything to everyone but they decline to say how they would pay for any of it."

Friesen says, if the NDP were to actually follow through on all their promises, Manitobans would likely see another PST increase and further downgrades to the province's credit rating.

The Conservatives have said if they should be elected in April, they will review all of the finances of government and make decisions after that on whether they can honour the NDP announcements.

Friesen says Manitobans should be wary about what the NDP government is all promising. He says this is all about believability and credibility.

"There is a need to be tremendously cautious when a sitting government is hiding from its fundamental responsibility to bring a budget to disclose to Manitobans what they have done with what has been entrusted to them by voters."