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Prime Minister Brian Pallister said that Manitoba would not share the excise tax money on cannabis with the municipalities and that there is no other gift to to offer mayors and greedy prefects new revenues as the New Year approaches.
"Palliating the provincial deficit is too important to be compromised by new municipal funding," Pallister told the Association of Manitoba Municipalities' annual conference, noting that the annual cost of servicing the provincial debt would exceed $ 1 billion. .
"This billion dollars and more, for the first time, will go to the lucky lenders in New York and Toronto," said the Prime Minister during a 21-minute speech at the RBC Convention Center.
Manitoba's total debt was $ 24.2 billion at the end of the last fiscal year, while the province had a deficit of $ 827 million.
Pallister said the province was struggling with financial challenges such as rising interest rates and expensive projects from the Manitoba Hydro State Corporation. He promised to eliminate the deficit by 2024 after a series of deficits initiated by the former NDP government in 2009.
"Is not it time for us to have a provincial government that understands that you can not just raise your debt and say yes to everything today, with no consequences for tomorrow?" Pallister told the delegates.
"Finding balance is a priority for us."
WMA President Chris Goertzen said municipalities face inflationary pressures and want the province to end the freeze on funds set up in 2017 – and share the proceeds of the tax. excise on cannabis.
"We know that municipalities will see increases and we want the provincial government to share the excise funds to cover these costs," said Goertzen.
Pallister said his government did not intend to end the freezing of municipal funding, two years old, and that there was no evidence that cannabis incomes exceed provincial costs, including maintaining order.
At present, cannabis buyers pay an excise duty of $ 1 per gram, or 10% of the price, whichever is greater. The federal government has proposed to keep 25% of the money and give the rest to the provinces.
On January 1, the province will begin charging a six per cent tax on retail sales of cannabis.
Pallister also used his speech to criticize Ottawa for expanding consultations on the Lake Manitoba Rescue Channel, noting that the move would delay the completion of the work until 82 years old. or 2036.
Pallister also said Toronto law firms were trying to delay the project further.
"I have a tip to give Bay Street lawyers in Toronto who go to Interlake locations and tell them to save them a lot of money by threatening to delay these projects," he said. said Pallister.
"My advice to these lawyers is to find a job, get a real job."
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