NDP’s 17 Months of Failure: Higher Costs, Rising Unemployment, and No Plan for Trump’s Tariffs
WINNIPEG — As the Manitoba Legislature reconvenes today, the Official Opposition continues to demand answers from an NDP government that has failed to address rising unemployment, skyrocketing costs, increasing crime, and new U.S. tariffs that threaten to devastate Manitoba’s economy.
“Premier Wab Kinew has broken promise after promise,” said Wayne Ewasko, Leader of the Official Opposition. “He said he’d lower grocery prices, but prices keep climbing. He promised to fix healthcare, but wait times keep getting longer. He said he’d be tough on crime, but crime has spiraled further out of control.”
“The premier also told Manitobans he had a plan for Trump’s tariffs, but there’s still no sign of it. After 17 months in power, the NDP have failed at every turn.”
Under the NDP, unemployment surged to 6.2% in 2024, while Manitoba’s exports to the United States dropped by over $1 billion. Families are drowning under higher taxes, rising Hydro bills, and increasing Autopac rates with no relief in sight.
Midland MLA Lauren Stone, PC Critic for Finance, said that Manitobans need a serious and substantive tariff response plan that puts families and businesses first.
“These tariffs will hit our economy hard, and every day without a substantive plan brings more uncertainty for Manitoba businesses and workers,” said Stone. “We need to see immediate action, starting with real, long-term tax relief. That means scrapping the carbon tax for good, permanently eliminating the payroll tax for businesses, and lowering income taxes while tearing down interprovincial trade barriers.”
“We also need to repeal protectionist land development policies under the NDP-Liberal 30×30 plan that are driving investment away and stifling economic growth in our province,” Stone added. “Instead of piling on more taxes and regulation, the government needs to give Manitoba businesses and families the relief they need to get through this economic storm.”
The Official Opposition will continue to hold the NDP accountable throughout the spring legislative session, which runs until June 2.
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