The Premier of Manitoba reaffirmed his stance Friday that his government would not hold a referendum on a proposed 1% Provincial Sales Tax increase, despite hundreds of people rallying for him to do so.
“I understand it’s never popular to generate additional revenue,” Premier Greg Selinger told Global News.
“We have real issues right now that have to be addressed in the province.”
On Thursday, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) along with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association, helped organize a rally outside the Manitoba Legislature. An estimated 500 people attended. Protesters are upset the Greg Selinger government will get around a law requiring a referendum on tax hikes by simply using its majority in the legislature to change the law.
A group on Facebook has been created, also attacking the PST increase. On Friday, it had more than 2,000 members.
One user posted in regard to the rally:
“I came. I saw. I froze. I cried. In my humble opinion the turnout was dismal. Basically it was a non-starter. You can get more than that at a lousy nightclub on any given weekend…depressing.” Said one user. By late Friday, the comment had been removed from the group page.
“I would attend rallies,” said Winnipegger Louis Lavallee, who said she had to work during Thursday’s rally, but would attend others if there were more scheduled.
“I don’t agree with being told there’s going to be a tax hike.”
There have been several other protests at the steps of the Legislature with similar numbers, such as “idle No More” rallies mainly held in December. CTF insists Thursday’s tax protest was a success.
“If we put pressure on this, they’ll back down on like they have on other issues,” said Colin Craig, Prairie Director for CTF.
“Years ago they wanted to take (the Manitoba Public Insurance) surplus and spend it, instead we got those tax dollars returned to Manitobans.”
“At best I think that we will see a response by the government to use the revenues in a way the protesters would accept.” Said Christopher Adams, a Political Scientist at the University of Manitoba. Adams said opposition to the PST hike will ultimately have to be tested at election time.
“If (the protesters) oust the NDP government in a couple of years in the next election I think they’ll see this demonstration as being successful, even if the PST is not retracted.”
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