May 14, 2019
Manitoba Introduces Tobacco Tax Amendment Act
– – –Rate Adjustment to Offset PST Reduction on July 1: Fielding
The Manitoba government has introduced proposed legislation that would ensure the total retail price of tobacco will remain approximately the same once the provincial sales tax (PST) rate decreases to seven per cent on July 1, Finance Minister Scott Fielding announced today.
“As a result of the PST reduction, we are making this amendment to maintain the current selling price of tobacco, and any additional revenue associated with the adjustment will be directed toward investments in health care,” said Fielding. “We are pleased to follow through on the advice we received from the Canadian Cancer Society and its partner organizations.”
The proposed changes mean the tax on each cigarette would be 30 cents, up from 29.5 cents; fine cut tobacco would be 45.5 cents per gram, up from 45 cents; and raw leaf tobacco products would be 27.5 cents per gram, up from 27 cents.
Fielding noted this approach is consistent with the measures the federal government implemented when it reduced the GST and adjusted its excise duty to maintain the retail selling price of tobacco.
The proposed amendments to The Tobacco Tax Act would come into effect on July 1 if the bill receives royal assent before the legislative assembly rises on June 3, or on Nov. 15 if it receives royal assent on or after July 1.
Information on quitting smoking is available at www.gov.mb.ca/health/tobacco/quitting.html.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED
backgrounder
Background Information - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/fr/newslinks/2019/05/BG-Tobacco_Taxation-FI.pdf