PCs to nearly double charitable tax credit

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This article was published 16/09/2023 (658 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If the PC Party gets into office, they will nearly double the charitable tax credit.

That news was the subject of the campaign’s first platform announcement in southeast Manitoba.

Steinbach PC Party incumbent Kelvin Goertzen made the announcement at K.R. Barkman Park on Sept. 8.

GREG VANDERMEULEN THE CARILLON
PC candidates Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach), Carrie Hiebert (Morden-Winkler), Konrad Narth (La Verendrye), and Bob Lagasse (Dawson Trail) along with special guests spoke in Steinbach.
GREG VANDERMEULEN THE CARILLON PC candidates Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach), Carrie Hiebert (Morden-Winkler), Konrad Narth (La Verendrye), and Bob Lagasse (Dawson Trail) along with special guests spoke in Steinbach.

He was joined by PC colleagues including Morden-Winkler’s Carrie Hiebert, Dawson Trail’s Bob Lagasse and La Verendrye’s Konrad Narth.

“This is of course the third largest city in Manitoba and one of the, if not the fastest growing cities in the province,” he said. “Steinbach for several years has been named the most generous city in all of Canada. I believe Winkler is number two.”

Goertzen said the province of Manitoba is known for its generosity with 192,000 Manitobans giving to charity in 2021.

A re-elected PC government would make the return on giving a little more generous.

The change will increase the rebate on the first $200 charitable contribution from 10.8 percent to 20 percent, and contributions over $200 from 17.4 percent to 25 percent.

According to Goertzen that would make Manitoba the province with the most generous charitable tax credit in the country.

GREG VANDERMEULEN THE CARILLON 

Steinbach PC incumbent Kelvin Goertzen announces changes to the charitable tax credit as Morden-Winkler candidate Carrie Hiebert looks on, at the K.R. Barkman Park on Sept. 8.
GREG VANDERMEULEN THE CARILLON Steinbach PC incumbent Kelvin Goertzen announces changes to the charitable tax credit as Morden-Winkler candidate Carrie Hiebert looks on, at the K.R. Barkman Park on Sept. 8.

Goertzen said higher costs and higher interest rates have created challenges for Manitobans.

“Governments can’t eliminate all of these challenges, but government can certainly make a difference,” he said. “Our Progressive Conservative government has demonstrated a commitment to helping families in these difficult times.”

“We also know we must do more and because of the strong economic growth in our province we can do more,” he added.

He highlighted recent PC announcements including reducing the lowest income tax bracket by half, removing the land transfer tax for first time homebuyers, introducing a property tax deferred program for seniors and removing carbon tax from hydro bills.

“There is a great deal to be optimistic about in Manitoba,” he said.

GREG VANDERMEULEN THE CARILLON 

Steinbach PC incumbent Kelvin Goertzen announces changes to the charitable tax credit as Morden-Winkler candidate Carrie Hiebert looks on, at the K.R. Barkman Park on Sept. 8.
GREG VANDERMEULEN THE CARILLON Steinbach PC incumbent Kelvin Goertzen announces changes to the charitable tax credit as Morden-Winkler candidate Carrie Hiebert looks on, at the K.R. Barkman Park on Sept. 8.

Goertzen shared how growing up his family benefitted from social programs such as government housing and charities after his father died as the result of an addiction to alcohol.

“We were supported by Manitoba taxpayers in that way,” he said. “But we were supported in other ways by the generosity of a community and by charitable organizations who offered spiritual and practical support for my family.”

The announcement will cost $12 million annually, but Goertzen wouldn’t predict how much more money could be donated to charity as a result of the increased rebates.

“It’s difficult to say,” he said. “We’re already the most charitable province in Canada. You’re standing in the most charitable city in Canada. I know at the end of the day, most people give because they want to help somebody else, even if they don’t see those individuals.”

“But I do know that if more money is returned to them through a higher tax credit it encourages them to give more,” he added.

Also present at the announcement was Island Breeze, a Steinbach based charity.

GREG VANDERMEULEN THE CARILLON
La Verendrye PC candidate Konrad Narth.
GREG VANDERMEULEN THE CARILLON La Verendrye PC candidate Konrad Narth.

Before a quick performance, Isi Masi expressed his approval for the announcement, saying it will benefit organizations like them.

Other parties weren’t so impressed.

In an email to the Winnipeg Free Press, Liberal leader Dougald Lamont said money should be invested in public services so Manitobans don’t need to pick up the slack.

“We have a cost-of-living crisis, a health-care crisis and a justice crisis, and the PCs solution is to offer people who donate $200 to a charity an extra 17 bucks,” he said.

The NDP didn’t criticize the announcement, instead focussing their attention on the fact that the PC leader wasn’t in Steinbach.

GREG VANDERMEULEN THE CARILLON
PC candidates Konrad Narth (La Verendrye) and Bob Lagasse (Dawson Trail).
GREG VANDERMEULEN THE CARILLON PC candidates Konrad Narth (La Verendrye) and Bob Lagasse (Dawson Trail).

“Heather Stefanson couldn’t be bothered to stand behind this announcement (Sept. 8),” the NDP statement said. “If the PC leader wants to campaign for the job of premier, she ought to show up and defend her government’s record of cuts.”

– with files from the Winnipeg Free Press

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