Manitoba will not introduce a carbon tax after the federal government was unable to give assurances about escalating costs.
The provincial government will implement its own plan without a carbon tax which it says will be better for households and businesses.
“Our Made-in-Manitoba plan proposed a flat, fixed tax rate that would provide stability to consumers, business, industry and agriculture,” said Premier Brian Pallister. “It would save Manitoba families and businesses more than $260 million over five years, compared to the Ottawa plan. Most importantly, all monies collected under our plan would be returned to Manitobans, in the form of tax reductions.”
The Manitoba government sought the federal government's assurance that it would not impose its escalating carbon tax plan over and above the Manitoba tax but Ottawa did not give it.
“Ottawa acknowledged that our plan is the best in Canada,” said the premier. “But they have also stated that they will impose their higher – and rising – carbon tax on Manitobans after one year. This would mean twice the tax, for poorer results. That would threaten jobs and economic growth throughout our province and take money off the kitchen tables of Manitoba families.”
