We can expect some tax breaks, and some tax increases when Manitoba’s NDP government delivers its first budget today.
The Canadian Press has reported the New Democrats are slated to double the tax credit for fertility treatments, offer Manitobans free prescription birth control, provide people who buy electric vehicles a $4,000 rebate, and provide $300 rebates for people who purchase security cameras for their home or business.
They’re also expected to follow through on a campaign promise to increase a tax credit to help renters, and will replace paper health cards and records with plastic health cards and digitized records. What they haven’t revealed yet is whether they plan to extend the provincial fuel tax holiday beyond the June deadline.
As for tax increases – those with higher incomes and higher-value homes are expected to take a hit.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, meanwhile, has called on premier Wab Kinew to balance the budget, and if that’s not possible, at least present a plan for how to eventually get to a balanced budget. Manitoba’s deficit is estimated to be close to $2-billion dollars.
Kinew has promised fiscal responsibility, but has also pledged to hire more health-care workers, and increase funding to municipalities, schools and other bodies.
