Manitoba premier kicks off election campaign, calls provincial vote for Oct. 3

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson has launched an election campaign with voters set to go to the polls on Oct. 3.

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson launched an election campaign Tuesday and promised more tax cuts if her Progressive Conservatives are re-elected Oct. 3.

"Manitobans need real relief and a real long-term commitment to affordability in the future," Stefanson told a news conference flanked by cheering Tory candidates. She had earlier visited Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville to have the writ for the election dropped.

A re-elected Tory government would cut the lowest provincial income tax bracket in half over four years. Stefanson said. The move would save the average person earning $50,000 in annual income $1,900 per year when fully implemented in 2028, she added.

Stefanson also promised to remove the federally imposed carbon price on hydro bills within 10 days of being re-elected. The price is applied to natural gas, which many Manitobans use for heat, not to electricity, which comes from hydroelectric generation.

Stefanson said the government could afford the tax cuts and balance the budget by 2025. Manitoba has run deficits in every year but one since 2009.

The leader of the Opposition New Democrats called the Tory promise a "desperate" last-ditch effort to hold onto power.

"People in Manitoba are dealing with high costs right now. If the Progressive Conservatives thought this was a good idea, why didn't they help (Manitobans) earlier? Why are they waiting until after an election?" Wab Kinew said.