Manitoba NDP say they'll lift PST on rental unit construction

Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew says he will lift the provincial sales tax from the construction of new rental units if his party wins the Oct. 3 provincial election.

Kinew made the announcement Tuesday morning at Winnipeg's RBC Convention Centre during a speech before the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce.

The move, he said, should kick-start development and add to the number of affordable housing units in the province.

Eliminating the PST on rental construction would allow Manitoba to dovetail with a federal government plan to remove the GST from rental construction.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made that announcement on Thursday in a move he said would spur new development.

While housing prices in Manitoba are not as high as they are in several other provinces, there remainsa shortage of adequate housing here relative to demand.

Kinewalso promised to change the tax credits for film and video productions in Manitoba.

An NDP government would give a cash advance to companies that come to Manitoba to make movies, instead of issuing refunds after the companies incur expenses, he said.

Kinew also promised to appoint a cabinet minister in change of tourism, fund a pair of recreation projects in Winnipeg and help pay for a new entrance to the Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centrein Winnipeg.

• Read full coverage of the 2023 Manitoba election here

Advance polls for the election open Saturday.