Taxpayers group urges Manitoba to permanently cut gas tax as fuel prices rise

WINNIPEG, Mar. 15, 2026 − A taxpayer advocacy group is urging the Manitoba government to permanently cut the provincial gas tax as fuel prices climb across the province.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s prairie director says the move would provide immediate relief for drivers facing higher costs at the pump.

“Premier Wab Kinew can give families a break today by cutting the gas tax,” said Gage Haubrich. “When prices at the pump jump, the government shouldn’t pile the cost of taxes on top.”

Gasoline prices in Manitoba have increased by about 15 cents per litre since March 1, according to the group.

The province previously suspended its 14-cent-per-litre provincial fuel tax for all of 2024. The tax was reinstated Jan. 1, 2025, at a rate of 12.5 cents per litre.

The federation says a Manitoba family pays about $9 in provincial gas tax when filling a minivan and about $11 when filling a pickup truck. Over the course of a year, a family filling up every two weeks could pay roughly $550 in provincial gas taxes.

During the year the tax was suspended, Manitoba recorded the lowest fuel prices in Canada, the federation said.

Haubrich says the Manitoba NDP’s election platform also stated the gas tax cut would remain in place “while inflation remains high.”

Polling conducted before the tax was reinstated showed about 70 per cent of Manitobans supported making the gas tax cut permanent, the federation said.

“Kinew knows that gas tax cuts make life more affordable,” Haubrich said. “He needs to go back to what works and cut the gas tax again to save Manitoba drivers serious money.”

Steven Sukkau is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with the Winnipeg Sun. Title image: Urban street view in downtown Winnipeg (Tom Kowalsky, Pexels).