Manitoba governing NDP say Tory tactics could delay tax cut on food

WINNIPEG – A showdown is looming at the Manitoba legislature over the government’s budget bill, with the governing New Democrats calling for quick passage and the Opposition Progressive Conservatives demanding a tax cut be tacked on.

The bill, expected this week, is to enact changes announced in the spring budget that include the elimination of the provincial sales tax on more food items sold at grocery and convenience stores.

The government plans to have the tax cut in place by July 1, and with less than a month left before the legislature’s summer break, wants to have the bill debated and passed into law as early as next week.

The Tories, however, said Wednesday they will not agree to pass the bill this spring unless the government raises the basic personal amount — the level of income that people can earn tax-free — from $15,780 to $21,000.

“Manitobans are in an affordability crises and (the) budget did not include any meaningful relief,” Tory finance critic Lauren Stone said.

Basic groceries are already tax free. The budget’s plan to extend the sales tax exemption to other items such as prepared meals and snacks would save the average family of four about $100 a year, the government has said.

Raising the basic personal amount would save the average two-income family $1,000 a year, the Tories said.

In question period, Premier Wab Kinew said the food tax cut, along with others in the budget, will deliver real relief. He said the government is prepared for a long summer in the chamber in order to get the bill through.

“I’ve got no problem calling somebody’s bluff,” Kinew told the Tories.

“I love question period, and if you don’t pass this bill next week, then we’re coming back in June. And if you don’t pass it in June, we’re coming back in July.” 

The NDP has a solid majority of legislature seats and can pass bills without the support of the Opposition. But Opposition co-operation is needed to get bills through the various stages of debate in a short time frame. The bill could come to a final vote as late as November under the legislature rules.

Kinew said the Tory tactic threatens to push back the start date of the tax cut beyond July 1. 

He said the bill must be passed into law before the tax cut can take effect, and tabled a one-page memorandum written Wednesday morning by the province’s chief legislative counsel, whose name was redacted, to support the idea.

“The law presently prescribes what items are taxable and the rate of tax that must be paid. It’s not legally permitted for government to instruct retailers to impose and collect a lesser amount as of a specified date (without a change in law),” the memo reads.

The Tories said they don’t agree with the memo because many tax changes have been made before the required law was enacted.

Previous Manitoba governments have raised fuel, tobacco and sales taxes before the accompanying bills were passed into law. The federal government last month suspended its excise tax on fuel before introducing legislation.

The Tories pointed to media stories from 2019 when Kinew, then Opposition leader, said the then-Tory government could enact a sales tax cut before the needed legislation was passed.

But the NDP said its new guidance from legislative counsel is clear. While there is parliamentary convention supporting tax increases before a bill is passed, decreases are another matter.

“Passing that … bill is essential to allow us to bring those important savings into Manitobans’ pockets and we’re going to do whatever it takes to make sure that we get this done,” Finance Minister Adrien Sala said. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2026.