Severe cuts to highways budget worry Manitobans: poll
Most Manitobans are worried about the severe cuts to the provincial highways budget and would likely opt not to rollback the PST to 7%, in favour of using the revenues for highway construction and repairs.
The poll, conducted by Prairie Research Associates for MHCA and Merit Contractors Association of Manitoba, found 75% of respondents said they were concerned or very concerned with the budget cuts.
“We’re not at all surprised by the results in the recent poll,” MHCA President Chris Lorenc said about the results of the poll, which asked 800 Manitobans for their views about the condition of highways and streets.
The PRA poll also found a solid majority of Manitobans — 67% — would support keeping the PST at 8%, and using the revenues of the one percentage point to fix highways.
“Highways need $6 billion worth of work,” said Yvette Milner, president of Merit Contractors. “And so, most respondents are likely asking why give up almost $300 million in provincial revenue that will be lost in cutting the PST.”
The random telephone poll, conducted January 8 – February 4, asked respondents about the conditions of highways and streets.
On Winnipeg’s streets and roads, 61% said they are in poor or very poor shape.
On the PST, pollsters asked: “Would you be willing to consider keeping the PST at 8% if the $300 million were dedicated to fixing highways in Manitoba?”
“We know and understand the Progressive Conservatives want to keep the election promise to cut the PST by one percentage point. Keeping elections promises is important,” Lorenc said.
“That’s why we think the best thing is to give Manitobans a say, before rolling it back to 7%.”
Lorenc said the government should conduct a referendum, prior to moving on the PST rollback, asking Manitobans if they would prefer to keep the tax at 8%, if the revenues of that one point were dedicated, in legislation, to fixing transportation infrastructure. The government, by legislation, must put any proposal to hike a major provincial tax to a public referendum; Lorenc said the rollback proposal could similarly be tested against public sentiment.
The PRA poll found those living outside of Winnipeg were fairly evenly split on their views of the condition of their highways.
