Manitoba homeowners say they aren't getting $1,500 property tax credit promised by province

Steve Lambert · The Canadian Press

· Posted: May 20, 2025 6:16 PM EDT | Last Updated: 44 minutes ago

The Manitoba authorities faced much questions astir its spot taxation reforms Tuesday aft immoderate homeowners did not person a promised $1,500 recognition connected their yearly bill.

Finance Minister Adrien Sala said determination was a occupation with immoderate homeowners not registering their properties arsenic their superior residence, which is simply a information to get the credit. He enactment portion of the blasted connected municipal governments.

"We cognize that immoderate municipalities were much effectual astatine communicating with residents than others and successful immoderate instances, we are seeing individuals who did not registry their residence arsenic their main residence," Sala said.

The state is moving with municipalities connected a solution to get the occupation fixed soon, but determination was nary connection connected erstwhile radical mightiness expect to get their money.

Dave Routhier, a Winnipeg homeowner, said helium was shocked erstwhile helium opened his bill. It was not instantly wide that the recognition was missing, and helium was told to wage $1,300 much than past year.

"We're blessed that we are capable to sorb the interaction to our currency travel ... but individuals that cannot — lower-income individuals, radical connected fixed incomes, retirees — it's a immense deed to them," Routhier said. Like galore Manitobans, Routhier opts to disagreement his measure into monthly payments.

The Opposition Progressive Conservatives said they person heard from dozens of different homeowners successful the aforesaid situation.

Province aims to lick contented soon

Routhier said erstwhile helium inquired astir however to get the contented fixed, helium was guided to online accusation that said helium could taxable for the recognition connected his income taxation instrumentality adjacent spring.

Sala said helium aims to person things sorted retired overmuch much quickly.

"We're presently successful speech with the City of Winnipeg and different municipalities," helium said.

The contented is the latest flare-up successful an ongoing governmental conflict implicit acquisition spot taxes. Unlike immoderate different provinces, Manitoba has a dedicated spot taxation to assistance money schools.

The NDP government, elected successful 2023, eliminated a strategy implemented by the erstwhile Tory authorities that provided a 50 per cent rebate to residential spot owners and an further $350 recognition for people's superior residence.

In its place, the authorities introduced a level $1,500 recognition that, dissimilar the erstwhile rebate, does not emergence with higher spot values and is not disposable to cottages, flat buildings and different properties not occupied by the proprietor arsenic a superior residence.

The NDP has touted the determination arsenic a taxation savings for astir Manitobans, due to the fact that the recognition tin destruct acquisition spot taxes for lower-value homes.

But overall, the authorities estimated it would wage retired $148 cardinal little successful the archetypal year. And that fig would emergence arsenic yearly spot taxes increase. The Tories person said it amounts to a taxation hike for a ample fig of people.

Routhier, who has lived successful his location since 2010, said helium had nary thought helium was expected to registry his location arsenic a superior residence. Other radical whitethorn not adjacent recognize they are missing retired connected the credit, helium said.

"There's going to beryllium a definite fig of radical that whitethorn ne'er get this addressed."

NDP points fingers astatine trustees

During question play Tuesday, Premier Wab Kinew deflected immoderate of the vigor the NDP's been facing for higher spot taxes onto schoolhouse trustees.

"It's the schoolhouse trustees who acceptable the taxation rates. You have the accidental to spell to the ballot container adjacent twelvemonth if you're unhappy with what's happening this year," Kinew said.

However, trustees have no accidental successful higher assessments or the caller provincial tax-credit strategy that leaves immoderate residents paying more.

PC Leader Obby Khan said trustees raised taxes due to the fact that their divisions weren't decently funded by the province, but the president of the Manitoba School Boards Association says the state isn't blaming them.

Alan Campbell said trustees are liable for taxation rates and divisions person faced challenging fiscal conditions, ranging from enrolment maturation to inadequate backing and higher salaries, for the past 10 years.