Manitobans to Rally Againt PST Hike

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canadian Federation of Independent Business  and Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association are reminding Manitobans  about the rally against the PST hike at the Legislative Building Thursday evening.

The three organizations have been working the phones, email, Facebook and Twitter to let Manitoba residents know about the opportunity to vent their frustrations about the premier’s “broken promise.” Details for the rally are as follows:

“If you’re already finding it hard to pay for all the taxes that are going up, come out and show your opposition to a PST increase on top of everything,” said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. “The premier promised during the election that he wouldn’t raise taxes. We have to stand up and hold him accountable.”

Finance Minister Stan Struthers said the money raised from the tax hike will go entirely to infrastructure spending — on everything from repairing and renewing roads, improving flood prevention infrastructure and increasing capital investments like hospitals and hockey rinks.

CFIB’s national President, Dan Kelly, will be in Winnipeg to speak at the rally. “The PST hike is bad enough, but gutting taxpayer protection legislation is even worse. When I began my career with CFIB in Winnipeg 20 years ago, Manitoba’s balanced budget law was the best of its kind.  Manitoba entrepreneurs are bracing for the impacts of an increase in PST with the door wide open to future tax hikes,” said Dan Kelly, CFIB President and CEO.

The assault on the provinces proposed 1% hike of the PST to 8% beggining July 1st has been relentless since the budget was announced a little over two weeks ago.

“What Manitoba needs is a plan to grow our provincial economy, create jobs and build a better, more entrepreneurial province,” said Dwayne Marling, Vice President Manitoba and Saskatchewan with the CRFA. “All an increase to the PST will do is take money out of our pockets and stifle job creation.”

SOURCE: Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association