Trucking
The Manitoba
Trucking Association was front and centre, when Finance Minister Cameron
Friesen unveiled Manitoba’s 2018 Budget. On
the heels of the unveiling, the MTA attended an
event headlined by Minister Friesen, with
hopes of better understanding the carbon tax revenue dispersement model. At both
events, MTA staff made it clear to our government representatives that the
current course isn’t acceptable to our industry.
Starting
September 1, 2018, the fuel pumps in Manitoba will see an increase of 6.7 cents
a litre for diesel, which equates to an additional $50 million in fuel tax paid
by Heavy Diesel Vehicles in Manitoba, over and above the $318 million Manitoba
collects in fuel tax from our industry at present.
The MTA has
been working tirelessly alongside the provincial government for some time, with
the expectation of collaborating on a commercial vehicle GHG reduction
strategy. The MTA and others were advised to expect that the revenues collected
from the carbon tax would be revenue neutral and invested into environmental
programming, which for our industry would come in the form of the GrEEEner
Trucking Efficiency Initiative. This is not the case as the government
has clearly stated that carbon tax revenues will be directed towards income tax and
other cuts. As well, in 2018 and forecasted for 2019, the provincial
government has stated they will be collecting more in carbon taxes than they
will be returning to Manitobans.
The
MTA is diligently working with government to right this. MTA staff have
been told that some programming for the trucking industry is coming. We
will continue working in good faith in that regard but need our members to know
that until specific commitments have been made public, we will not cease to
speak out on this issue.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the staff at the MTA.
204 632-6600