2025 Begins with Record Tax Hikes, Rising Costs, and Leadership Failures We Can No Longer Afford
As we begin 2025, it’s clear that we simply cannot afford Justin Trudeau, Wab Kinew, or Scott Gillingham any longer. These elected officials have made no serious effort to cut spending or reduce taxes and fees—the very factors driving the skyrocketing cost of living that burdens Canadians and Manitobans alike. Their collective failure to exercise fiscal responsibility is hitting families, small businesses, and communities harder than ever.
Trudeau’s federal deficit has ballooned to over one trillion dollars, leaving Canadians with the grim reality of paying more in taxes and fees while receiving less in return. Today, federal payroll taxes are increasing yet again, costing workers and employers alike. Those earning over $64,000 will now face an additional $355 to $403 in federal income-based payroll taxes. Beyond that, maximum pensionable earnings for the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and maximum insurable earnings for Employment Insurance (EI) are also rising, further squeezing household budgets.
Even small indulgences won’t be spared. Federal excise taxes on alcohol will increase by 2% starting April 1, making beer, wine, and spirits even more expensive. While the increase is capped at 2% until 2026, it’s still a painful reminder of a government addicted to squeezing every last cent from its citizens. These tax hikes come with no effort to rein in federal spending, leaving Canadians to foot the bill for a reckless fiscal agenda.
At the provincial level, Premier Wab Kinew has done little to differentiate himself. The return of the gas tax will raise costs for businesses, which will inevitably pass those costs on to consumers. Kinew’s growing deficit shows no signs of slowing, and he’s done nothing to address Manitoba’s systemic fiscal challenges. His lofty promises during the campaign—fixing healthcare and reducing grocery costs—have proven to be hollow. Healthcare waits remain as long as ever, and grocery bills continue to climb, leaving families to wonder if any relief is in sight.
Mayor Scott Gillingham is no better. Starting today, Winnipeg residents are facing the largest property tax hike in recent memory, a stark betrayal of his promise to cap increases at 3.5 percent. On top of that, Gillingham is raising water, waste, and garbage collection fees, adding insult to injury for taxpayers already stretched thin. His failure to secure funding for critical projects, like the widening of Kenaston Boulevard, reveals a lack of leadership and an overreliance on external help to fulfill basic infrastructure commitments.
All three of these leaders share a troubling commonality: an unwillingness to make tough decisions to cut spending and prioritize fiscal health. Instead, they double down on unsustainable debt, forcing taxpayers to shoulder the burden of their inaction. The interest payments alone on municipal, provincial, and federal debt are staggering and unsustainable, driving up taxes and deepening deficits.
The impact on everyday Manitobans and Canadians is severe. Higher taxes and fees mean less disposable income for families already struggling with inflation and stagnant wages. Businesses, too, are bearing the brunt of these costs, which stifle growth and innovation. Meanwhile, the leaders responsible for this financial mess show no intention of curbing their own spending. Trudeau, Kinew, and Gillingham will continue to collect their paycheques, travel on taxpayers’ dime, and attend high-priced dinners while ignoring the dire need for fiscal restraint.
This cycle of reckless spending and higher taxes must stop. Manitobans and Canadians cannot afford to endure another year of failed leadership. These politicians have mastered the art of public speaking, offering polished promises that amount to nothing. Trudeau’s promise to reduce grocery costs is as laughable as Kinew’s pledge to fix healthcare or Gillingham’s vow to keep tax increases manageable. Their actions consistently contradict their words, leaving citizens to pay the price for their empty rhetoric.
Today marks the beginning of a defining year for families and businesses struggling to make ends meet. Winnipeg residents are waking up to higher property taxes, increased utility fees, and an overall rise in the cost of living. Manitobans are facing steeper gas prices and mounting provincial debt, while Canadians across the country contend with higher payroll taxes and rising costs for basic goods and services. This financial strain is not an accident; it is the direct result of the failure of Trudeau, Kinew, and Gillingham to exercise fiscal responsibility.
We can’t keep pretending this is sustainable. The cost of living is rising because none of these leaders have the courage to make real changes. Families are being stretched to their limits while politicians collect their pay, attend dinners, and spend recklessly. It’s time to ask hard questions and demand better. These are our lives, our livelihoods, and our futures on the line, and the same excuses just aren’t enough anymore.
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