What retailers need to know about Manitoba’s election results

As widely anticipated, Manitobans voted to stay the course, awarding Brian Pallister’s Progressive Conservative Party with a second majority mandate, in expectation that the government will continue to work towards a balanced budget, lower taxes and a stronger health care system.

Election Results Summary

The PCs received strong support across the province, taking 36 of 57 seats, and 47.07 percent of the vote. The NDP under Wab Kinew will remain the leader of the official opposition, with 18 seats, a pickup of six. Manitoba’s Liberal Party was reduced by one seat, losing official party status and the funding and legislative profile that this designation provides. The Green Party experienced modest gains in popular vote over 2016, failing to see the surge experienced in some areas of Canada.

New Manitoba Legislative Assembly:

Party	Dissolution	2019	Change
Progressive Conservative Party	38	36	– 2
New Democratic Party	12	18	+ 6
Liberal Party	4	3	– 1
Other	3	0	0
Manitoba Green Party	0	0	0

Retail Sector Related PC Priorities

The Progressive Conservatives ran a safe, low profile summer election campaign, with Premier Brian Pallister making daily campaign pledges. The following pledges will be of interest to RCC members operating in the province:

Sunday and Holiday Hours

The government is expected to move quickly on removing restrictions on Sunday and holiday shopping, by repealing the Retail Holiday Businesses Closing Act to “level the playing field” for retailers. Pallister said he would retain the restriction that requires businesses to be closed between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Remembrance Day and municipalities have the ability to introduce restrictive bylaws.

Lower Taxes:

The campaign highlighted the recent 1 percent PST reduction, as well as commitments to eliminate PST on a several personal services. The PCs have also committed to phasing out the education property tax, a $2,000 average household savings by 2029.

Crime Reduction:

The PC government plans to spend $10 million to reduce crime in downtown Winnipeg, including measures that will help directly and indirectly reduce shoplifting for vulnerable retailers.

Private Sector Job Growth:

Premier Pallister have committed to generating another 40,000 new private sector jobs during this next mandate.

Green Plan:

The Minister of Sustainability announced plans in this next mandate to make Manitoba the “cleanest, greenest, and most climate resilient province in the country”, including banning recyclable materials from landfills, as well as investing in organic waste programs.

Manitoba Liquor Review

The government is also expected to move forward this fall with its review of liquor in the province, including exploring opportunities for increased participation by the private sector in the liquor retail and distribution sectors.

Next Steps:

RCC welcomes each of these highlighted priorities, as they reflect the messages, we have been consistently communicating in discussions we have had with the party.
We have shared our congratulations with the Premier and will be reaching out to individual Ministers to secure meetings once the new cabinet has been formed.
RCC expects to be actively engaged in numerous consultations in coming months and will ensure our members are informed and perspectives heard as the government advances their priorities.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact: John Graham, Director, Government Relations (Prairie Region) at 204-926-8624 or jgraham@retailcouncil.org.