This column was originally printed in the Winnipeg Sunon Sept. 10, 2016, and is now free to reprint.
The provincial election made one thing clear: major tax increases require referendums.
Premier Brain Pallister recently hired David McLaughlan to work on the campaign promise to "develop a made-in-Manitoba climate action plan" that includes "carbon pricing." The promise is vague, but if the government forces people to pay for carbon, it's a carbon tax. A carbon tax must start with a referendum.
The PC platform clearly promises to "bring in legislation in the first legislative session restoring Manitobans' right to vote on any proposed major tax increases."