The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released Leger polling showing 83 per cent of Manitobans want Premier Wab Kinew to tell Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to cancel the April 1 carbon tax hike.

“The poll is crystal clear: Manitobans want Kinew to speak out against the carbon tax hike,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “Other premiers are standing up for their constituents against the carbon tax hike and Kinew needs join the fight.”

Kinew is the only provincial premier where the federal carbon tax is directly applied that has not yet called on the federal government to stop its carbon tax hike.

The Leger poll asked Manitobans if they support or oppose Kinew calling on the federal government to cancel the carbon tax hike.

Results of the poll show:

• 57 per cent strongly support
• 26 per cent somewhat support
• 11 per cent somewhat oppose
• 6 per cent strongly oppose

The federal government is set to increase the carbon tax to 17 cents per litre of gasoline, 21 cents per litre of diesel and 15 cents per cubic metre of natural gas on April 1.

The carbon tax will cost the average Manitoba family $502 a year more than they get back in rebates, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

“Kinew needs to publicly oppose the carbon tax hike to send a strong message to Ottawa,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director.  “If Trudeau cares about making life more affordable, then at the very least he would cancel his carbon tax hike.”