Premier Wab Kinew said Tuesday he may extend Manitoba’s gas tax holiday that’s set to expire at the end of the month.
“We’re taking a look at extending that potentially to the end of the year based on a lot of different factors,” Kinew said at an unrelated outdoor news conference in Brandon as loud pickup trucks roared past.
The premier pointed out pickup truck drivers are saving $14 when they fill up their gas tanks, thanks to the Jan. 1 suspension of the 14 cent-per-litre tax on gasoline and diesel. It was put in place for six months by the NDP government, then extended to the end of September.
“We have the lowest gas prices in all of Canada since we took this step and it’s reduced inflation in Manitoba,” Kinew said. “This is a concrete step that our government was able to take to move the economy in a more affordable direction for you,” he said. “We know that inflation has come down in Manitoba – but does anybody feel like they’re getting ahead with the cost of living?” the premier asked.
Kinew said grocery prices remain high as do rent and housing costs, adding that high interest rates factor into the high cost of housing.
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem is widely expected to lower the central bank rate to 4.25 per cent from 4.5 per cent on Wednesday. Kinew said the province would be keeping an eye on that announcement.
“We’re going to be looking to the broader conversations and indicators we have and basically ask you, the people of Manitoba, ‘should we extend this gas tax holiday another three months to save you money?’”
A Leger poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation in August found 71 per cent of Manitobans support the continuation of the fuel tax suspension.
Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.
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