Affordability a concern for many Manitobans

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/02/2024 (663 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Since the legislature adjourned in early December, I’ve had the pleasure of attending many community events in Charleswood and Headingley, speaking with constituents, and meeting with stakeholders related to my role as health critic for the official Opposition. As spring approaches, my colleagues and I are preparing for the next sitting of the Manitoba Legislature scheduled to begin in early March.

One of the issues I’ve been hearing about regularly from constituents is affordability. The cost of almost everything has increased over the last few years, and most Manitobans are feeling the pinch. Come April 1, another expense we all pay for – the federal carbon tax – is set to increase yet again.

Much of the carbon tax you pay is baked into the cost of everything you buy, but if you heat your home with natural gas, you can see the direct impact of the carbon tax on your monthly Hydro bill. (And it may surprise you to learn that you also pay PST on the carbon tax itself – a tax on a tax!)

You may recall that in the fall, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decided to exempt home heating oil from the carbon tax. This tax break applied largely to Atlantic Canada, and if you use a different fuel to heat your home – such as natural gas, like most Manitobans – you are out of luck.

Premiers across the rest of the country objected to Trudeau’s decision, pointing out that this approach is deeply unfair to other Canadians. (It also calls into question the federal government’s justification for imposing this tax in the first place.) Unfortunately for Manitobans, NDP Premier Wab Kinew did nothing. instead, he flip-flopped on the issue several times, ultimately refusing to stand up to Ottawa and demand a carbon tax break for Manitobans.

Next door in Saskatchewan, Premier Scott Moe removed the carbon tax from heating bills on Jan. 1, providing cost relief to Saskatchewan families. But here in Manitoba, while many struggle to make ends meet, Wab Kinew’s NDP has instead chosen to do nothing.

In the fall, our Progressive Conservative team put forward a motion in the legislature calling on the NDP government to immediately remove the carbon tax from home heating bills. However, the NDP blocked the motion from moving forward.

With rising costs for groceries, housing, and just about everything else, governments need to stop making life more expensive. As your MLA, I will hold the NDP government accountable for its decisions and stand up for the people of Charleswood and Headingley at the Manitoba Legislature.