Supporting Manitoba’s green thumbs to grow greener neighbourhoods: Morley-Lecomte

WINNIPEG — To put more ‘green’ back into Manitoba streets and gardens, a re-elected PC government will remove the PST from the sale of trees and flowers, Janice Morley-Lecomte, PC candidate for Seine River, announced today.

“We want every Manitoba family to have the opportunity to beautify their homes and neighbourhoods, and dig into the benefits of gardening,” said Morley-Lecomte. “More trees and plants mean cleaner air and healthier communities. We believe these measures will make home and community greening efforts more affordable, and help us all add an extra splash of nature to our streets.”

Fruit and vegetable plants are already exempt from PST, Morley-Lecomte noted. Extending the exemption will build on the PCs’ commitment in Budget 2023 to plant an extra 1 million trees every year in rural, urban, and Indigenous communities across Manitoba over the next decade, she said.

“That has an equivalent impact of taking more than 16,000 cars off the road,” said Sheilah Restall, PC candidate for McPhillips. “I’m proud to be with a party fighting for a greener future for Manitoba, and working to restore our natural landscapes and renew our urban canopy and streetscapes.”

Extending the PST exemption will also remove administrative red tape and stimulate business for local growers, Morley-Lecomte said.

“Making it more affordable for Manitobans to buy plants is a great initiative,” said Kevin Twomey, former owner of T&T Seeds. “Plants are good for our mental wellbeing, and they absorb carbon from the atmosphere. More plants is good for Manitoba, and good for local greenhouses and small businesses.”

Since 2016, the PCs have kept their promise to lower the sales tax burden on families, first by reducing the PST back down to 7 per cent, saving a family of four an average of $500 a year. The PCs have also removed the PST from home insurance, haircuts, and fees for will and tax return preparation.

Just eight years ago under the NDP, Manitoba was the highest-taxed jurisdiction in the country. After promising not to raise the PST during the 2011 election, Greg Selinger did exactly that—to 8%. The NDP also made Manitobans pay PST on more goods and services. They began charging the PST on property insurance, personal services like haircuts, nail services, and spa treatments, and much more.

It was one of the 15 times that the NDP raised taxes during their time in government, making Manitoba the highest-taxed province west of Quebec.

“Businesses need to know they won’t be taxed out of business, and families need to know they won’t be taxed out of their homes,” said Morley-Lecomte. “The PCs are the only party that will give them stability and certainty that their lives will be more affordable.”

The provincial election will be held on October 3, 2023.

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