A recent Probe Research poll found that 65 per cent of Manitobans feel the Selinger government’s decision to raise the provincial sales tax was “unnecessary.”

Manitobans seem to finally be waking up.

There are three likely factors that have driven that number to 65 per cent. First, and hopefully the biggest is the reality the Selinger government is just plain poor with managing money.

Prior to raising the sales tax Manitobans paid some of the highest tax rates in Canada. If the Selinger government couldn’t get the job done with high tax rates then clearly they’re the problem; it’s not a lack of funds.

For years the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF), a donation-based taxpayers’ watchdog organization has regularly highlighted all kinds of ways the government poorly spends our money. The provincial government should tackle those problems instead of raising taxes.

For example, we released research showing government-run cafeterias in hospitals across the province (selling food to the public not patients) lost about $4.5 million from 2010 and 2012. No one expects a hospital cafeteria to be a big money maker but why on earth couldn’t it break even?

In fact, one did – the Victoria Hospital turned a $186,851 loss (when it was government-run) into a $25,593 gain after partnering with a food business.

Another example would be the high number of sick days provincial government employees take. Statistics Canada data obtained by the Sun showed provincial bureaucrats took 13.1 sick days in 2012. Yet Statistics Canada data obtained by the CTF showed the average number of sick days taken by those working outside government in Manitoba was only 7.1 days. Cut back on sick time and the government could save another small fortune.

One could add all kinds of other government waste examples to the list – such as wasteful advertising, the province’s large bureaucracy and cost overruns on so many different projects.

Also contributing to the poll results is likely the mixed messaging of the Selinger government.

When the Selinger government tabled its budget and announced the sales tax increase they claimed the extra money was going towards infrastructure – things like roads and bridges.

However, it didn’t take long for people to count up the numbers in the premier’s budget and calculate that less than half of the tax increase would go towards infrastructure.

Since that time we’ve heard the government waffle many times; even suggesting the extra money is for paying for nurses salaries, splash pads and park benches. This is a government that just can’t get its message straight.

Finally, the poll results likely represent a frustration with Premier Selinger breaking his promise. He promised not to raise the sales tax during the election and then of course broke that promise. But not only did he break that promise, he is still trying to change a law that removes the requirement for his government to hold a referendum before raising the sales tax.

If the Selinger government doesn’t become more taxpayer-friendly voters might look for someone who is - Manitobans appear to have woken up.

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