Tories hammer NDP for inflation jump

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This article was published 18/03/2025 (235 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba has recorded the highest jump in the cost of living in Canada for the second consecutive month — a dubious distinction that sparked debate about affordability measures and rising school taxes in the legislature Tuesday.

Statistics Canada data show the local consumer price index rose 3.5 per cent last month compared to February 2024. The national inflation rate grew 2.6 per cent.

The Manitoba Bureau of Statistics attributed the change to a 23 per cent surge in gasoline prices since last winter. Travel tours, rent, mortgage interest costs and the purchase and operation of vehicles contributed to the uptick.

The Opposition Tories took the opportunity in question period to accuse the NDP of making life more expensive.

“A need for relief has never been greater. The economics horse is obviously in trouble,” Wayne Ewasko, interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives, told the house.

Ewasko asked the NDP why it’s “driving inflation up” by allowing hefty property education tax hikes, among other fees.

The Winnipeg School Division, the largest in Manitoba, approved a 13.7 per cent increase in local fees last week. The average inner-city homeowner with a property valued at $269,900 is expected to pay $214 more annually before the province’s new $1500 rebate is applied.

Remaining metro divisions also have double-digit increases, amounting to 10.4 per cent in St. James-Assiniboia, 16.6 per cent in Pembina Trails, 16.8 per cent in Seven Oaks, 14.4 per cent in Louis Riel and 14.4 per cent in River East Transcona.

That’s according to a briefing shared with the City of Winnipeg’s executive policy committee, which PC finance critic Lauren Stone tabled in the legislature.

“Many more steps to make your life more affordable will be coming in this year’s budget,” Premier Wab Kinew said, addressing the legislature via livestream.

The budget for 2025-26 will be unveiled Thursday.

Kinew also touted new legislation that aims to increase competition in the grocery sector by banning restrictive covenants — real estate controls that essentially allow businesses to draw a no-competition zone around their site — and his party’s track record on the provincial fuel tax.

The NDP’s gas tax holiday, a key pillar in its 2023 election platform, was extended for all of 2024.

The 14 cents-a-litre tax was permanently reduced to 12.5 cents as of Jan. 1.

During the first month the tax was reinstated at a lower rate, Manitoba’s gas prices grew 25.9 per cent, year-over-year.

While fuel prices grew slightly less in February, the all-items consumer price index rose even higher. It was 2.7 per cent in January compared to 3.5 per cent last month.

“Manitoba had lower inflation on food purchased from stores than any of the provinces in the west, but we know that that’s not good enough,” Kinew noted during question period.

This StatCan line item grew marginally more in Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C., which recorded respective increases of 3.5 per cent, 3.7 per cent and 3.5 per cent compared to Manitoba’s 3.4 per cent growth.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca