Inflation is making our lives increasingly miserable.
Manitoba has a basket of programs to assist low-income Manitobans, but they are not written to increase with inflation. We need to examine these programs closely and consider replacing them with increases in personal and family income tax exemptions.
Increase the personal exemption to $20,000 and taxing half of the next 20,000 in income would provide a path for Manitobans to raise themselves out of poverty while providing some relief to those in higher income brackets.
Taxing us and returning a portion in subsidies is inefficient and expensive. Manitobans need added income every month, not at tax filing time.
Reducing the PST from 7% to 6% would also be an effective inflation reliever.
We must find innovative ways to keep more of Manitoban’s earnings in their pockets.