WINNIPEG – The Manitoba government will implement a flat $25-per-tonne Green Levy and reduce the PST to six per cent, saving Manitoba families and businesses more than a billion dollars over the next five years compared to the rising federal carbon tax, Premier Brian Pallister announced today.

Both the made-in-Manitoba Green Levy and the PST reduction will come into effect on July 1.

Manitobans will come out ahead with both the flat Green Levy and lower PST. The average Manitoba household will save $200 in 2022 through Manitoba’s flat Green Levy alone, adding up to more than $700 over the next five years, the premier said.

The premier noted that 100 per cent of the flat Manitoba Green Levy will be returned to Manitobans. Dropping the PST to six per cent will save Manitobans $325 million each year, $40 million more than the actual cost of the flat Manitoba carbon levy. The average Manitoba household will save $359 in 2022 with a six per cent PST.

Manitoba large industrial emitters will reduce emissions through a made-in-Manitoba output-based carbon pricing system based on the flat Green Levy of $25 per tonne.

Greenhouse-gas emissions in Manitoba will be reduced by at least two megatonnes (MT) over the five-year carbon savings account period set in legislation, a doubling of the original one MT goal fixed last June.