Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson announced the province’s latest efforts to combat inflation Thursday morning.
Stefanson unveiled a $200-million carbon tax relief fund, which the province says is aimed at helping 700,000 Manitobans with rising costs this winter.
The fund will impact Manitoba singles and couples — with or without children — with a family net income last year below $175,000.
Single people below the income threshold will receive a cheque for $225 each, while couples will receive $375, with the partner with the lower income receiving the payment.
This is the second round of cost-of-living funding from Stefanson’s government, following a first series of cheques issued last fall, focusing on seniors and families with children.
In the first round of cheques, senior households with a family income of under $40,000 received $300, while families with a net income of less than $175,000 got cheques based on children under 18: $250 for the first child and $200 for each additional child.
“Our initial affordability package focused on helping families with children address back-to-school costs and seniors with fixed or low incomes address inflation-related challenges,” said Stefanson.
“Our new carbon tax relief fund will broaden access to support almost every Manitoban who has to drive to work, take their kids to activities or go out to buy groceries.”
The premier attributed rising costs to the federal carbon tax — something she said her government has unsuccessfully asked its federal counterparts to pause.
“Food and transportation costs have risen dramatically in the last few months, putting pressure on family finances,” said Stefanson in her announcement, which was held at the Silver Heights-area Food Fare grocery store.
“But every family’s circumstances are different, and they will know how to best spend this money to help them make ends meet.”
Stefanson’s political opponents, however, weren’t so positive about the news.
Opposition leader Wab Kinew told 680 CJOB’s Connecting Winnipeg that if he were premier, he would have considered a one-time payment, but people need a lot more help than just a cheque can offer. He said the province should be stepping up to curb the rise in monthly payments.
“Part of the advantage — the cost of living advantage — we’re supposed to have in Manitoba, is the fact that we have Autopac, and we have Manitoba Hydro, which should be keeping your utility bills more affordable,” Kinew said.
“We do have rent control — at least in name — in this province, so if you’re a renter, there should be some assistance there. Even your property tax.”
Kinew said people are stressed out mainly due to recurring increases in costs, month-in and month-out.
“The province has the ability to act in some of these areas. The province has influence over many utility bills… there’s more that the government could do with the costs that we face on a day-to-day level.”
— with files from The Canadian Press
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