The Manitoba government has introduced new legislation that would remove the provincial sales tax from all groceries starting July 1, a move officials say is aimed at easing rising food costs for households across the province. The Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act — known as BITSA — was tabled at the Legislature this week and includes the full PST exemption on food items and non‑alcoholic beverages sold in grocery stores.
Finance Minister Adrien Sala says the government wants the bill passed quickly so families can see savings as early as this summer. “We want to make this happen by July 1 so Manitobans can start benefitting from the PST removal as soon as possible,” Sala said, adding that the measure is part of a broader affordability strategy.
The proposed change comes as grocery prices remain a top concern for many Manitobans. The government says the PST cut is one piece of a wider plan that also includes freezing the price of milk, banning predatory pricing practices, and removing restrictive covenants that limit competition in the grocery sector.
