Tax cuts and the provincial treasury: The Progressive Conservatives have combined old cuts and new ones in their $2,020 tax-cut promise. The most expensive measure has already been implemented: according to budget documents, the one-point reduction in the provincial sales tax will cost the government $325 million a year in lost revenue. Indexing personal income tax brackets and the basic personal deduction was budgeted to cost $36.4 million in the current fiscal year. The PCs have yet to provide cost figures on all of their newly announced tax cuts, such as eliminating the PST on home insurance and the preparation of wills.
Brokers group becomes political football: Which party is cosiest with the Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba? The NDP and PCs traded punches on the topic Tuesday. The NDP compiled a list of 26 donors to the PC party in the last three years with connections to IBAM (total donations: $59,213). The PCs noted while the NDP was in power, an annual $250,000 Manitoba Public Insurance subsidy to IBAM was initiated, and broker commissions for selling public auto insurance skyrocketed. IBAM is currently embroiled in a dispute with MPI over control of future online insurance sales.
Nominations: According to Elections Manitoba, 171 candidates have been nominated so far in the 57 constituencies, including 57 NDPers, 52 PCs, 36 Liberals, 18 Greens, five communists, and three independents.
Quote of the day: "The NDP never saw a tax they didn't like, and they never saw a tax they would not hike" — Tory Leader Brian Pallister, channelling his inner Dr. Seuss