The Premier of Manitoba says that now is not the time to make cuts to the province's post-secondary institutions.

Earlier this year the Manitoba government asked post-secondary institutions to make plans for employment cuts of 10 per cent, 20 per cent, or 30 per cent.

Last week, Premier Pallister said the government would no longer be reducing its grant to institutions. "The post-secondary aspects of our recovery are really critical right now, and we’re in a dynamic time," Pallister says.

Economic Development and Training Minister Ralph Eichler was involved in the discussions, Pallister says, and Eichler will be having more discussions with institutions.

Not only will the government not be making the originally planned one per cent cut, but they've also created a Transitional Support Fund worth $25.6 million for institutions.

"It is essential that Manitoba has a strong and responsive post-secondary system so institutions are positioned to respond effectively to the new economic and social realities," Eichler says in a release.

"This fund will support a new way forward to achieve success in a new and unknown labour market landscape," says Eichler.