The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is reminding Manitoba drivers about the gas taxes they pay as they fill up their vehicles for Victoria Day long weekend road trips.

“This year, Manitoba gas taxes are costing drivers up to $12 more per fill up,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “Premier Wab Kinew did the right thing when he cut the gas tax for an entire year. He needs to bring back the cut to keep drivers saving.”

The Manitoba government cut its 14 cent per litre gas tax to zero for the entirety of 2024. The government hiked the tax up by 12.5 cents per litre on Jan. 1, 2025.

Because of the tax hike, families will be paying about $9 in the gas tax every time they fill up a minivan and about $12 when they fill up a pick-up truck.

The Ontario government announced that its 5.7 cent per litre gas tax cut will be permanent. The average Ontario family has saved more than $1,000 since the tax was initially cut in 2022.

The Manitoba government also hiked taxes in Budget 2025 by bringing back bracket creep. Bracket creep costs taxpayers because the government stops indexing tax brackets to inflation. That means inflation can then automatically bump taxpayers into a higher tax bracket and raise their taxes.

Bracket creep will cost Manitoba taxpayers $82 million this year. 

“Kinew needs to be lowering taxes to make life more affordable instead of pushing taxes up,” Haubrich said. “Manitoba families are having trouble affording the basics and the government shouldn’t be leaving their wallets even emptier with tax hikes.”

A Manitoba family making $75,000 per year pays more in provincial taxes than similar families living in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan or Ontario.