PCs call on NDP to stop charging, collecting carbon tax on Manitoba Hydro natural gas bills

Manitoba Progressive Conservatives want the NDP government to stop charging and collecting the federal carbon tax on Manitoba Hydro sales of natural gas now that Premier Wab Kinew agrees that tax should no longer apply to home heating.

In their first announcement as the Official Opposition, the PCs heaped sarcastic praise on Kinew for coming around to their position on the carbon tax — and encouraged him to issue a directive to remove the tax from natural gas.

"We heard yesterday that the premier got in a room with his colleagues from across the country and they got him to see the light and we thank them for that," PC Hydro critic Grant Jackson (Spruce Woods) said Tuesday at an announcement outside the party caucus office at the Manitoba Legislature.

On Monday in Halifax, Kinew joined other provincial leaders in calling for the removal of the carbon tax from all forms of home heating. 

PC finance critic Obby Khan (Fort Whyte) encouraged Kinew to go farther and simply stop collecting and remitting the tax to Ottawa.

"It is good to see that they have finally come around and they have agreed with the PCs here in Manitoba and [leaders] across Canada that the carbon tax should be removed. But actions speak louder than words," said Khan, who plans to bring forward a legislative motion to stop charging the carbon tax on Manitoba Hydro bills.

Deputy PC leader Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach) said all Kinew has to do is issue a directive to Manitoba Hydro. Yet there would be legal implications in refusing to collect and remit a federal tax.

Adrien Sala, the NDP finance minister, noted the federal nature of the tax and suggested Manitoba is not going to antagonize Ottawa while Manitoba seeks federal funds to heat 5,000 homes with geothermal systems.

"We want to make sure we work in partnership and in collaboration with the federal government," Sala said Tuesday in his office.

Goertzen, Khan and Jackson made their announcement without PC Leader Heather Stefanson, who has not appeared in public since she was sworn in as leader of the Opposition in October.

Goertzen said the former premier is on a "well-deserved holiday" after losing the provincial election on Oct. 3.

"There are times when people need to get away, when they've gone through an intense time and they need to get a break. I don't think that that's unique to elected officials," Goertzen said.

Sala was less charitable.

"At this point we do expect that the leader of the Opposition will be front and centre in doing the work that they're supposed to be doing. It seems as of late they haven't been coming to work as often as they should be," Sala said of Stefanson.