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Manitoba will extend the gas tax holiday until December 31, Premier Wab Kinew announced Wednesday.
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“Since we cut the gas tax in January, inflation has gone down in Manitoba,” said Kinew in a press release.
He emphasized the need to support Manitobans facing high interest rates and grocery prices, stating the government will continue to save residents 14 cents per litre at the pump.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is applauding Premier Wab Kinew for extending the fuel tax cut until Dec. 31, but taxpayers are also calling on the government to make the tax cut permanent.
“Kinew is right to extend the cut and keep saving Manitobans money at the gas station,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director in a press release. “Tax relief at the pumps goes a long way to help Manitobans make ends meet.”
The extension applies to gasoline and diesel used for motor vehicles. Kinew noted that drivers of the province’s most common vehicle, pickup trucks, will save around $14 per fill-up. The Manitoba Bureau of Statistics estimates the gas tax holiday has helped reduce inflation by 0.4 percentage points.
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In total, a Manitoba family filling up a minivan and a pick-up truck once every two weeks has saved more than $440 over the course of the cut so far, according to statistics from the CTF.
“Taxpayers shouldn’t be stuck worrying about tax hikes at the end of every extension, the government needs to make this tax cut permanent,” Haubrich said. “Making the tax cut permanent allows guaranteed savings for Manitobans every year. Kinew needs to permanently axe the gas tax.”
Since the tax holiday began, Manitoba has reported the lowest average retail gasoline prices in Canada, and inflation has fallen within the Bank of Canada’s target range of 1% to 3%.
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