WINNIPEG, MB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is urging Premier Wab Kinew to extend his gas tax cut before it expires on Sept. 30.

“Taxpayers can’t afford a tax hike next week,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “Kinew can’t let Manitobans lose these savings, he needs to extend the gas tax cut now.”

The Manitoba government cut its 14 cents-per-litre provincial fuel tax on Jan. 1 of this year. The cut is scheduled to expire at the end of September.

Manitoba’s fuel prices have been the lowest in the country since the cut.

Because of the gas tax cut, people are saving about $10 every time they fill up a sedan or minivan. Drivers save about $13 every time they fill up a pick-up truck.

In total, a Manitoba family filling up a minivan and a pick-up truck once every two weeks have saved more than $440 over the course of the cut so far.

Polling shows 71 per cent of Manitobans want the government to extend the gas tax cut. Polling also shows 68 per cent of Manitobans want the government to scrap the fuel tax permanently.

“The government needs to extend the gas tax cut, but the next step is to make the cut permanent,” Haubrich said. “Manitoba families are fighting to afford the basics and they shouldn’t be forced to hold their breath every couple of months to see if the government is going to hike their taxes.”