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The spring sitting of the third session of the 43rd legislature adjourned with the passing of Bill 53, the Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act, which will remove the provincial sales tax (PST) from groceries starting July 1, among other impactful bills, government house leader Nahanni Fontaine announced today.
“Taking PST off groceries will make life more affordable for Manitobans,” said Fontaine. “We’re saving you money at the grocery store, more money for homeowners and renters, providing free child care to low-income families and making transit free for youth, showing our dedication to affordability on every level.”
During this legislative session, Fontaine noted the Manitoba government passed several bills to help lower costs, improve health care and create good jobs, including:
- Bill 53, the Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act, will make housing and essential goods more affordable by removing PST from groceries, increasing the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit to $1,700 and the Renters Affordability Tax Credit to $675.
- Bill 49, the Business Practices Amendment Act, will protect consumers by prohibiting retailers from using consumers’ personal data to increase the price of goods based on algorithmically determined information.
- Bill 27, the Declaration of Principles for Patient Health Care Act, will create a safer, more efficient patient experience and improve safety for patients and staff through a patient safety charter that enshrines the right to good health care.
- Bill 28, the Health System Governance and Accountability Amendment Act, will implement nurse-to-patient ratios.
- Bill 26, the Health System Government and Accountability Amendment Act, will begin to eliminate mandatory overtime for nurses.
- Bill 11, the Employment Standards Code Amendment Act, will limit the requirement for sick notes by banning them for up to seven days.
- Bill 8, the Long-Bladed Weapon Control Amendment Act, will take weapons off the streets by establishing restrictions on the sale of long-bladed weapons and pepper spray including photo identification requirements and limits on access for minors.
- Bill 31, the Highway Traffic Amendment Act, will combat drunk driving by requiring motorists with Class 1 to 4 licences to maintain zero blood-alcohol levels.
The Manitoba government’s investment in front-line staff has helped produce a record number of physicians practising in the province, supported the hiring of 48 new provincially funded police officers and contributed to significant reductions in crime, according to the Winnipeg Police Service’s 2025 Statistical Report, including a 48 per cent decrease in homicides.
The Manitoba government continues to invest in creating better jobs, lowering costs and improving health care, while maintaining the lowest deficit-to-GDP ratio in the country, Fontaine noted.
