Winnipeg, May 11, 2026 – The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) welcomes today’s announcement from the Manitoba Workers Compensation Board (WCB) that it will return $90 million in surplus rebates to eligible employers through a 35 per cent credit toward 2026 premiums.
CFIB has long been a key advocate for employers on this front, fighting to ensure that when the system is overfunded, surplus money is returned to the business owners who fund the system.
“Today’s rebate is positive news for Manitoba small businesses at a time when many continue to face rising costs and economic uncertainty,” said Brianna Solberg, CFIB Director for the Prairies and Northern Canada. “Employers fund this system, and returning surplus funds allows business owners to reinvest in their operations, support employees, improve workplace safety, and manage ongoing cost pressures.”
CFIB appreciated the opportunity to meet today with the WCB CEO and Chair of the Board to discuss the announcement and the importance of maintaining transparency around the board’s financial position and surplus distribution practices. CFIB noted that the WCB is expected to remain significantly above its own 130 per cent funding target ratio even after this year’s rebate distribution.
“While employers appreciate receiving a rebate, many small businesses will rightly ask why more of the surplus was not returned this year,” said Solberg. “Previous rebate distributions have resulted in credits closer to 50 per cent, and given the board’s continued funding position above target, this year’s rebate could have been significantly larger.”
CFIB continues to call on Manitoba to legislate a mandatory, rules-based surplus rebate framework similar to Ontario’s model, where excess funds must be automatically returned once the board exceeds its prescribed funding threshold.
“Right now, surplus rebates remain discretionary,” said Solberg. “That creates uncertainty for employers who are already struggling with tight margins and rising costs. A legislated framework would provide greater predictability and ensure surplus funds are returned fairly and consistently once the board becomes overfunded.”
Returning surplus funds is one practical way to provide relief without new government spending, and employers deserve certainty that when the system becomes significantly overfunded, excess funds will be returned.
With Manitoba experiencing an entrepreneurial drought — where more businesses are closing than opening — CFIB has been calling on governments and public agencies to look for every opportunity to reduce costs and improve certainty for small business owners.
“Small businesses are under enormous pressure right now,” added Solberg. “Returning surplus employer funds in a predictable and transparent way can help businesses reinvest, grow, and keep their doors open at a time when we desperately need more entrepreneurs, not fewer.”
For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:
Brianna Solberg, CFIB
306-713-8071
About CFIB
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 103,000 members across every industry and region (5,785 in Manitoba). CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca