The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Premier Wab Kinew to balance the budget, cut the sales tax, permanently cut the gas tax and end corporate welfare. The CTF presented these recommendations to Finance Minister Adrien Sala on February 26.

“Government debt has been rising for too long in Manitoba,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “Every year the government fails to balance the budget is another year of rising interest payments on that debt.”

The CTF’s submission calls for scrapping corporate welfare and ending the government employee wage premium to reduce government spending and balance the budget. Government employees are typically paid about 5.5 per cent more than everyone else, according to the Fraser Institute.

Balancing the budget would allow the government to pay back debt and reduce debt interest charges. The Manitoba government has spent more than $4.9 billion on interest charges over the last five years.

“Kinew needs to commit to making life more affordable by permanently cutting taxes,” said Haubrich. “Families are struggling to afford rent, gas and groceries so the government must put more money back in the pockets of Manitoba taxpayers.”

The CTF is calling on the government to permanently cut the gas tax. This would save a one-car Manitoba family about $430 per year.

The CTF’s pre-budget submission also calls on the government to cut the PST by one percentage point. This would save the average family about $286 per year.

The Manitoba government announced today that it will be presenting the 2024 budget on April 2.

The CTF’s full pre-budget proposal is available HERE.