WINNIPEG, MB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is criticizing Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew for increasing the debt by $3.2 billion this year and failing to provide substantial tax relief.

“Manitobans haven’t forgotten that Kinew hiked their income taxes last year with bracket creep while he keeps borrowing more money,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “The government needs to provide real tax relief instead of painting over tax hikes with inadequate measures that leave taxpayers worse off overall.”

The government is removing the Retail Sales Tax from grocery items such as ready-to-eat foods. This relief will save taxpayers $32 million annually.

The budget is also changing the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit so some homeowners will save on their education property tax bill. However, homeowners with homes valued at more than $1 million will be paying more.

The government is not reversing its 2025 bracket creep income tax hike that bumps taxpayers into higher tax brackets due to inflation. Bracket creep costs Manitoba taxpayers $82 million last year. The cost of bracket creep to taxpayers this year will increase due to inflation.

Tax relief announced this year will save taxpayers $71 million.

A Winnipeg family earning $75,000 still pays more provincial taxes than a similar family living in Regina, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal.

The government is also increasing the debt by $3.2 billion compared to last year’s budget. By the end of the year, the debt will be $39.7 billion.

“Kinew needs to cut spending and stop wasting so much money on debt interest payments,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “Every dollar the government borrows must be paid back by taxpayers plus interest.”

Debt interest payments will cost taxpayers $2.4 billion dollars this year, working out to about $1,580 per Manitoban. Debt interest payments will cost taxpayers more than $6.5 million per day.

The government is also spending $1.5 billion more than last year. The debt continues to rise even though the government is planning to collect $1.8 billion more in revenue this year, compared to last year’s budget.

“Kinew didn’t put an ounce of effort into cutting spending and saving taxpayers money,” Haubrich said. “The government is taking in record revenue from taxpayers and still borrowing money.”