Tories launch standupmanitoba.com to send message to Premier
Steinbach MLA and PC House Leader, Kelvin Goertzen, says the reaction from local residents has been swift and it has been strong against an increase in the provincial sales tax (PST) from 7% to 8% as the NDP is proposing.
“Almost immediately after the NDP announced it planned to increase the PST I started to get emails and calls from local residents upset about the increase. The main message they are telling me is that they already pay enough in taxes and that this increase will really impact their families,” said Goertzen.
Goertzen said some of the common themes he is hearing is that people will be shopping in the United States more to avoid the increased tax, small businesses will be impacted very negatively, and families with young children feel it will hit them especially hard.
The NDP have said they will change legislation to avoid having to put the PST increase to a referendum. Goertzen says that has not gone unnoticed by local residents.
“Almost everyone who speaks to me a bout this expresses frustration that the NDP are going to take away the right Manitobans currently have in law to have a say on a PST increase. It is seen as undemocratic and unfair,” said Goertzen.
The Manitoba Progressive Conservative’s have established a website where Manitobans can send a message to the Premier to not increase the PST. The website address is www.standupmanitoba.com.
Goertzen said his Party will use every power they have as an opposition to oppose the PST increase (introduced as Bill 20 in the Manitoba Legislature last week) and he encourages people to get involved.
“I think a message has to be sent to the government that enough is enough. We will use the tools we have to put pressure on the government but the most impactful thing will be if people get involved through letters, petitions and committee presentations. We really need Manitobans to tell the government they already pay enough taxes,” said Goertzen.
It is expected that a 1% increase in the PST will cost the average Manitoba family of 4 an additional $1200 per year.
