Over the past several weeks Manitobans have been discussing the plan by the provincial NDP government to raise the provincial sales tax from 7% to 8%. Overwhelmingly the response has been negative as most Manitobans believe that the tax increase is unnecessary and a result of a government that refuses to get control of its spending problem.
But while there has deservedly been a great deal of attention focused on the PST tax increase, it is important that Manitobans don’t forget that this is a continuation of the record tax increases from last year. While the tax increases last year were not as visible as the proposed PST increase, collectively they were one of the largest tax increases in the history of Manitoba.
There were increases to fees on birth certificates, death certificates, fishing licenses, camping registration and vehicle registration to name just a few. In addition, the NDP extended the reach of the provincial sales tax by adding it to previously exempt items such as home insurance and haircuts over $50.
All told, over two years, the NDP have increased provincial taxes and fees by about $450 million per year. That is a lot of money coming out of the pockets of Manitoba families in almost every way imaginable and its all to pay for the NDP spending problem because the annual deficit and accumulated debt isn’t going down.
In short, the NDP have left no stone unturned when it comes to finding more of your tax dollars to take.
All the while, Manitoba Hydro continues to increase the rates for hydro because the debt of the Crown Corporation goes up and up. And while export sales have continued to decrease the NDP are determined, without any economic analysis, to spend billions more on hydro dams that will result in even higher hydro rates for Manitobans.
And this week Premier Greg Selinger decided that even this wasn’t enough and he ordered his government to approve 500 additional video lottery terminal (VLT) gaming machines in the province as a way to raise an additional $18 million through gambling. The increase in the number of VLTs comes despite the fact Manitoba already has the highest number of VLT machines per capita in the country. The increase also comes despite the fact that NDP MLAs have for years said that these machines are a leading cause of gambling addiction.
The increase in the number of the VLTs, higher hydro rates, a record increase in fees last year and now the increase in the PST this year leaves Manitobans wondering what stone has been left unturned by the NDP in their quest to get more of your money. It’s a scary thought.
