The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew to pledge not to impose a provincial carbon tax should the federal government scrap its carbon tax.

“Taxpayers need assurance Kinew won’t impose any type of carbon tax on Manitobans,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “NDP leaders around the country are speaking out against carbon taxes, so Kinew needs to make it clear where he stands.”

British Columbia Premier David Eby recently announced that B.C. will scrap its provincial carbon tax if a future federal government removes the national requirement for one.

The Saskatchewan NDP called on the federal government to scrap the carbon tax.

“We want to see an approach to fighting the climate crisis where it doesn’t put the burden on the backs of working people,” Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said when asked about his stance on the carbon tax.

The federal carbon tax costs 17 cents per litre of gasoline, 21 cents per litre of diesel and 15 cents per cubic metre of natural gas.

That means filling up a sedan costs about $11 extra because of the carbon tax. This winter, the average Manitoba household will pay $294 in carbon tax to heat their home.

“Taxpayers can’t afford Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax and they won’t be able to afford a Kinew carbon tax either,” Haubrich said. “Kinew needs to come clean and rule out any plan that would impose a provincial carbon tax on Manitobans.”