Brandon residents weigh in on proposed gas tax freeze

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This article was published 01/12/2023 (1034 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba government’s proposal to temporarily halt the collection of provincial taxes on gasoline for at least six months, starting Jan. 1, 2024, has generated a varied response from Brandon residents.

Anticipated to save an average Manitoba family with two cars approximately $250 during this period, the proposal has elicited contrasting opinions on its potential impact.

Lexi Vuçetay

I am attending a concert in Winnipeg in February … so this will help the person driving me.

Deanna McMurray Nicholson

Whoop-dee-doo-da! Forty bucks a month savings. A carbon tax is another government cash grab. They charge ridiculous taxes and then rebate us to make themselves look like the saviours. Axe the tax altogether!”

Alice Villow Visperia

If the gas tax freeze is saving us money, then that would be useful. My wife and I don’t travel very much. We only drive when we really need to, such as to go to the store and appointments. We only need to get gas once every few months or so and we are pretty good on that. It probably wouldn’t affect us too much.

I don’t think the freeze would make me drive more or less. Our winter plans, I guess, would be to go visit my mother-in-law across town. So that would be about the only trip we’ll be making. I don’t think it’ll affect our driving habits at all.

Danny Hammond-Kolesar

It will help some since we already combine trips and try not to drive needlessly, but more help is needed too. Other tax relief would be great since wages aren’t keeping up with inflation. Hopefully, if carbon tax is on hold, groceries will come down since everything is trucked, especially to smaller communities.

Richard Isaac Waldner

It will help if the price of heating doesn’t increase beyond the savings of tax on gas. In older houses that have cheaper rent, the true cost can come in winter with the price of electricity. This can mean an electric bill that triples compared to the summer.

Pamela Hurren

Every little bit helps but I would rather see help with groceries. Not everyone needs to drive, but everyone needs to eat.

Sharran Habok

Yes, everyone has to eat, but if you live in the country, you need to drive also.

Elizabeth Balogun

The proposed temporary suspension of gasoline taxes is a positive outlook regarding the benefits it could bring to families facing significant expenses. Though freezing taxes on gasoline would alleviate financial burdens and enhance overall comfort in daily life, lowering the actual price of fuel will bring greater relief, especially considering the current cost of living.

I appreciate the government for this initiative and express hope for further supportive measures to come into effect, indicating a willingness to embrace additional beneficial changes.

I am not sure the freeze would make me to drive more, as it doesn’t make much difference because the decision to drive would remain largely based on family needs rather than the cost of gas. One could be more eager to go out and not consider the cost of gas due to the reduced financial impact.

Matthew Henry Tremaine

I work at a gas station, and I hear customers say several times that they will sell their cars if gas gets more expensive or put them away for a while. This is alarming, as we get more $10-$20 to fill up than what it was a few years back and that is sad and crazy. I hope this works as Canada is getting more and more unlivable.

Beverly Sanderson

If it takes a small car $50 to fill up, can you imagine what it takes to fill a truck or van? Well over $100 at least once a week if you live on a farm.

Andrew Morcombe

Pay me now or pay me later. The freeze is a short-term or short-sighted solution. It seems like that’s all we can handle these days top to bottom in this political environment.

Kyle Chamberlain

$250 per two vehicles over six months seems like a joke to me. Probably should be compared to the administration costs. If $20 per month per vehicle impacts your transportation cost that much, you probably can’t afford your vehicle. More than that should be saved for routine maintenance or rainy-day funds.

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