Pallister continues tax-cut theme, targets vehicle registration

Brian Pallister announced another small tax cut Tuesday, as the Progressive Conservatives build on the campaign theme that they are the only party that will reduce taxes.

At a news conference at a downtown Winnipeg autobody business, Pallister said the PCs would roll back a 30 per cent hike in passenger vehicle registration fees that occurred under the previous NDP government.

The Tory leader could not immediately say how much this would cost the government. However, he said the rollback would save passenger vehicle owners $35 per vehicle per year.

On Monday, after asking the lieutenant-governor to dissolve the legislature, Pallister said a re-elected PC government would save the average Manitoba taxpayer $2,020 over four years.

The figure includes savings from the one-point reduction in the provincial sales tax that took effect July 1. It also includes the indexing of personal income tax brackets and the basic personal income tax deduction, which have already been implemented.

Also included are several small tax decreases announced by the PCs in recent weeks, including eliminating the PST from home insurance, certain personal care services, tax preparation fees, and the preparation of wills.

Pallister has promised a full accounting of how the PCs arrived at the $2,020 figure later in the campaign.

"We're in the midst of the most significant tax reduction in Manitoba history," he said of his government's record. "The NDP never saw a tax they didn't like, and they never saw a tax they would not hike."

After the morning announcement in Winnipeg, Pallister headed to Brandon, where he repeated his tax pledge.

On Wednesday, he plans to make an announcement regarding health-care spending.

The election will be held Sept. 10.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca