WINNIPEG – Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has announced that the province’s upcoming tax relief on food items will be expanded to include convenience stores, ensuring they are not left at a competitive disadvantage. Initially intended primarily for grocery stores, the plan will now remove the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) from snacks, soft drinks, and prepared meals at a wider range of retail outlets starting July 1, 2026.
The decision follows concerns raised by corner store owners who argued that the original proposal would unfairly favor large supermarkets. Premier Kinew clarified that the goal is to lower the cost of living for all Manitobans, regardless of where they shop for their daily essentials. “Whether it’s a grocery store or a corner store—wherever you buy food and drinks to take home—it will be tax-free come Canada Day,” the Premier stated. The final legislative details are expected to be solidified in the Budget Implementation Bill this May.
The Retail Council of Canada has welcomed the expansion, noting that it creates a level playing field for businesses selling the same products. However, the tax cut will not extend to take-out meals from restaurants. While the restaurant industry has voiced disappointment over being excluded, the government currently has no plans to include them in the exemption.
Alongside the tax updates, Premier Kinew reiterated his administration’s intent to end the biannual tradition of changing clocks. The government plans to conduct public consultations throughout the year to determine whether Manitoba should adopt permanent standard time or permanent daylight time. With neighboring provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan moving toward similar models, Kinew suggested that a unified “Prairie Time Zone” could be established by the end of 2026. The final decision will weigh health benefits against concerns such as children traveling to school in the dark during winter months.
