Kinew floats idea of another gas-tax cut
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WINNIPEG — Premier Wab Kinew has hinted a second gas-tax cut could be coming.
While speaking at the legislature Tuesday, Kinew said, “Here in Manitoba, we’re focused on you. We cut the gas tax once, maybe we’ll do it again.”
His NDP government implemented a year-long gas tax holiday in 2024.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew hinted Tuesday in the legislature at implementing a second gas-tax cut for Manitobans. (The Canadian Press files)
Kinew was replying to Tory Leader Obby Khan, who was questioning why the premier was supporting federal New Democrat Leader Avi Lewis as NDP politicians in other provinces distance themselves.
“We’re clearly doing an amazing job on health care, we’ve clearly done a lot — with much more to do — on the cost of living. All the economic policies are going great,” Kinew said.
“Given the time to raise any of those topics that Manitobans are thinking about, all the member opposite can talk about is Avi Lewis. Good signs of things to come for the federal party in the future, maybe.”
Kinew then commented about the potential for cutting the gas tax again.
He made headlines recently for calling the 14-cent-per-litre tax holiday “the most important thing that a provincial government ever did in the history of Manitoba.”
Those comments came during the NDP national convention, held in Winnipeg last month. The tax holiday “gave power back” to middle-class and lower-income people, Kinew said at the time.
The Manitoba government imposed a reduced tax of 12.5 cents per litre in 2025.
Khan told reporters Tuesday he doesn’t believe Kinew is serious about a second gas-tax cut.
“The premier likes to make big, flashy announcements to catch everyone’s eye but distract from (the New Democrats’) failures,” Khan said.
“The reality is, under this NDP government, we are having massive failures across the board — in our economy, in our health care, when it comes to safety.”
Calls for governments to cut gas taxes have grown since fuel prices rose sharply amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre last week called on the governing Liberals to remove the fuel excise tax, the clean fuel standard and the goods and services tax from fuel. The move would save drivers 25 cents per litre at the pump, the Conservatives said.
The price of regular gasoline in Brandon on Monday was about 172.9 cents per litre, while diesel was sitting at about 199.9 cents per litre. The Manitoba average was about 121 cents per litre for regular gasoline on Feb. 25, according to price-tracking website GasBuddy.com.
The 2024 gas-tax pause in Manitoba cost the province about $340 million in lost revenue, Finance Minister Adrien Sala has said, defending the move as an important measure during a period of record-high inflation.
» Winnipeg Free Press, with files from The Brandon Sun