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Kinew is permitting a 44% natural gas hike, and increases in taxes Manitobans cannot afford. Photo by Winnipeg Sun /Winnipeg Sun
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On May 1, natural gas rates in Manitoba will increase by more than 44%. The Public Utilities Board (PUB) approved Centra Gas Manitoba’s request to raise the commodity rate from $0.0667 to $0.0961 per cubic metre. Add the new “Commodity Cost Balancing Deferral” rider, and we’re staring down a massive hike — one that will cost the average family about $73 a year, or more if we get another long winter.
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That alone should be enough to concern anyone trying to stay ahead of the rising cost of living. But this is just the start.
Manitoba Hydro has also announced its rates will climb by 11% over three years. The utility will have annual increases of 3.5% each, starting January 1, 2026. So now we’re hit on both heating and electricity. As if that weren’t enough, you’re also paying more in provincial income taxes. Why? Because Premier Wab Kinew quietly eliminated the cost-of-living increase (COLA) on the basic personal amount. That adjustment is supposed to protect your income from inflation — instead, you’re now taxed more just for keeping up.
While working families count coins and cut back on meals, your government is busy digging deeper into your pockets.
This isn’t leadership. It’s failure, dressed up with slogans and a fake smile.
The Winnipeg Sun’s Daily Headline News
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We’re not just talking about a bad month or a seasonal spike. This is a full-on affordability crisis, and Kinew’s activist government is pouring gasoline on the fire. People are being forced to make life decisions: food or rent, school supplies or power bills.
Kids suffer most. When families are stretched thin, extracurriculars get cut. No sports. No art classes. No enrichment. Meanwhile, the government carries on spending like we’ve hit a jackpot.
Let’s talk about that spending.
According to TD Bank Economics, Manitoba now spends nearly 10% of its revenues just paying the interest on its debt. That’s nearly a billion dollars every year — wasted. In contrast, Ontario and Quebec hold that figure closer to 6%. Yet Wab Kinew has not once announced a plan to rein in costs. Not once.
Would you run your household this way? Could you? If you spent 10% of your income just covering interest payments, you’d cut back. But Kinew’s government won’t, because in his world, restraint is a dirty word.
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There are simple steps that could show Manitobans — and investors — that this province is serious about financial discipline. Start with a one-year freeze on public sector wages.
During Brian Pallister’s time, a two-year proposal was expected to save roughly $250 million. One year would still be over $100 million in savings.
Next, apply a modest 2 to 5% cut to operating budgets across departments. That’s not slashing — it’s common sense. There is waste in the system. In 2022, the Auditor General flagged thousands of underused fleet vehicles, overreliance on consultants, and inefficient IT systems. Manitoba Housing, for example, had almost 1,000 empty units while overhead ballooned. Why not fix that?
Also, let’s rein in travel. Government agencies spent more than $2 million on travel in one year. Is that all essential? Or just unchecked spending because no one’s paying attention?
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If the Kinew government trimmed even a fraction of this bloat, we could start to rebuild confidence. Instead, they offer rate hikes, more taxes, and zero accountability.
The consequences go beyond household budgets. These decisions damage our province’s economic outlook. When businesses see rising costs, debt-servicing strains, and no plan to balance the books, they think twice about expanding. Investors don’t like instability. They avoid it.
Wab Kinew keeps talking about building the “social cart.” But right now, that cart is overloaded and the economic horse pulling it is malnourished. We’re taxing the workers and investors who keep the system alive, while refusing to control what we spend. That’s not sustainable — it’s reckless.
What’s worse is the smug indifference from this government. It’s as though they believe nobody notices. While Kinew’s busy on TikTok, Manitobans are turning down thermostats and skipping meals.
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If we stay on this path, the long-term damage will be severe. More families will fall behind. More small businesses will fold. More youth will leave for better opportunities elsewhere. And the government? They’ll still be spending.
The clock is ticking. You and I both know this cannot continue.
It’s time to stop accepting excuses. A 44% natural gas hike, an 11% electricity increase, and a quiet provincial tax grab all within months of each other — this isn’t a coincidence. It’s a symptom of a government that refuses to lead.
Manitobans deserve better. We need to restore fiscal discipline, cut the waste, and protect working families — before this ship sinks any further.
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— Follow Kevin Klein follow on Facebook, X and visit his website kevinklein.ca
Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca.
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