PCs Warn NDP Education Property Tax Hikes Are Deepening Manitoba Affordability Crisis
WINNIPEG — Figures released by the City of Winnipeg show an alarming increase in school division education property tax rates from 2023 to 2026, with some divisions raising taxes by over 40%. Manitoba Progressive Conservatives warned that the NDP’s education property tax hikes are a driving force behind Manitoba’s affordability crisis.
“Manitoba families are bearing the brunt of these tax increases from a misguided NDP tax scheme that targets homeowners, renters, businesses, and seniors,” said Obby Khan, Leader of the Official Opposition. “Food bank use is at an all-time high because Manitoba families can’t afford these skyrocketing tax hikes. They have no money left over for the basics.”
Figures released Monday by Statistics Canada also show a steep rise in education property taxes across the province, not just in Winnipeg. The latest Consumer Price Index shows a dramatic 19.5% jump in property taxes from Feb. 2025 to Feb. 2026. The average Canadian property tax increase was just 5.6%.
“The StatCan graph should be an embarrassing reality check for the NDP,” said Midland MLA Lauren Stone, PC Critic for Finance. “It shows how far Manitoba has fallen out of step with the rest of Canada. The NDP tax hikes are driving families to food banks, and pushing businesses out of Manitoba.”
Stone pointed out that Wab Kinew and his NDP removed all the guardrails to protect homeowners, such as cancelling PCs’ 50% School Tax Rebate and removing school division caps on tax increases. Without caps or limits on education property tax increases, NDP underfunding is forcing school boards to raise their rates, leaving homeowners to pay the price.
“Manitoba families can’t sustain these alarming, unprecedented tax increases,” said Khan. “We’re in the middle of an NDP-led affordability crisis and Wab Kinew is increasing taxes on Manitoba families and businesses. Kinew is making life unaffordable for Manitobans.”
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