Tory MLA vows to speak for days in tax hike debate

WINNIPEG – Manitoba politicians will resume debating the province’s controversial plan to hike the sales tax Tuesday: and the debate is expected to drag on for a very long time.

Progressive Conservative MLA Kelvin Goertzen says he  will list off every single consumer item the tax applies to as part of a filibuster that could delay the legislative process through the summer.

“Frankly we are going to do what we can do give the NDP the time to think about this. We think that time hasn’t been taken,” PC leader Brian Pallister said Tuesday.  Party leaders get unlimited time to speak on new legislation; Pallister transferred this privilege to Goertzen.

“I will speak for days not hours,” said Goertzen outside the Legislature before the filibuster began Tuesday. He says he’s prepared for the strain on his voice.

“I’ve got Fisherman’s Friends (lozenges) to help me out,” said Goertzen.

While he spoke, MLAs of all stripes left the chamber, turned their chairs away and some even read the newspaper.

The Tory MLA only spoke until 5pm Tuesday. The NDP was willing to let him speak through the night but the offer was turned down. Goertzen will be able to keep speaking the NDP choose to debate the bill.

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The NDP government’s Bill 20 raises the PST to 8 per cent 7, and suspends a legal requirement to hold a referendum on tax hikes.  The increase will go ahead July 1st in any case; but the legislation will eventually have to pass and the opposition Tories plan to delay it as long as possible.

Manitoba law also requires unlimited public hearings on new legislation: hundreds of people are signed up to speak. The Selinger government has promised not to use its majority in the legislature to put limits on hearings or debates.

The Tories highlighted the tax hike controversy Tuesday morning with a photo op at a Winnipeg marine dealer, saying the PST increase will add $200 to the cost of a $20,000 boat.

“By choosing not to address its own spending the NDP is stealing money from the pockets of Manitobans.  This means they will pay more or do without and it means businesses will suffer too,”  Pallister is quoted in a news release.