Manitoba politicians spar over Superstore rebate

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This article was published 10/05/2023 (851 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opposition Leader Wab Kinew was accused of picking a fight with local businesses after pledging to axe school tax rebates for out-of-province billionaires who own commercial properties in Manitoba.

During question period Wednesday, the New Democrats relaunched their attack on the Progressive Conservative government over its $453-million education property tax rebate program.

The program is designed to eliminate the tax over a 10-year period and includes about $40 million in rebates for commercial property owners this year.

For the past three days, the NDP has singled out rebates sent to addresses associated with businesses owned by Loblaw. George Weston Ltd., which holds large stakes in Loblaw Companies, reported a profit of $426 million in its first quarter.

“They did that by raising grocery prices on the hard-working people of Manitoba. At the same time… this government is sending that same company and its billionaire owner a cheque for $327,000,” Kinew said in question period.

The repeated line of questioning came one day after Premier Heather Stefanson suggested Kinew and the NDP would put Loblaw brand grocer Superstore out of business by holding back rebates, saying thousands of Manitobans work for the company.

On Wednesday, Stefanson said Kinew and his party were “picking fights with businesses in Manitoba.”

“We’ll continue to support those businesses in Manitoba to ensure that we’re creating an environment in Manitoba that’s conducive for them to grow their businesses,” Stefanson said. “If businesses grow in Manitoba, it means more revenues to the government.”

Earlier this week, Kinew pledged an NDP government would stop cutting education property tax rebate cheques to out-of-province billionaires but would otherwise leave the Tory tax program intact.

Kinew would not provide specifics on how the NDP would administer the program to exclude wealthy commercial property owners who are based outside Manitoba. Details would be provided closer to the election scheduled for Oct. 3, he said.

Finance Minister Cliff Cullen said the approach proposed by the NDP amounts to picking “winners and losers.”

“What kind of rules is he making up? Is he making policy on the fly, is he going to pick and choose winners and losers?” Cullen said. “What is his agenda, besides taxing them?”

Cullen said economic growth and a larger workforce have padded provincial coffers and allowed for increased spending on health and education.

When it comes to Loblaw, Cullen said the company employs 6,000 Manitobans and the government will support them.

“We’ve been focusing on creating an atmosphere for economic development, an opportunity for Manitoba business to grow,” Cullen said.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca