We need your immediate support – Manitoba PST

As you are aware, the Manitoba government has introduced budget implementation legislation that would exempt prepared foods sold in grocery and convenience stores from PST, while continuing to apply the tax to the exact same products sold by restaurants.

We need your immediate support. 

This policy creates a structural disadvantage for restaurants and franchise operators across Manitoba. It is not a neutral affordability measure – it is a tax shift that gives one set of prepared food sellers a government-backed advantage over another.  This policy will shift consumer demand away from restaurants, accelerating economic pressure on operators, employees, and local communities.

As outlined in a recent email from Restaurant Canada’s Vice President of Central Canada, Kris Barnier, we have been actively pushing back since this measure was announced in the March Budget, but we need the collective voice of the industry to increase pressure on government before this legislation advances further. 

We are asking you to engage your Manitoba franchisees immediately.  Please share this email, encouraging them to participate in our letter-writing campaign to Premier Kinew, Finance Minister Adrien Sala, and local MLAs.  

Your leadership and franchise network engagement are critical.

We have included a template letter that franchisees can easily send to government officials outlining the impact this policy will have on their businesses, employees, and communities. 

Thank you for your support and urgent action on this issue.

Kelly Higginson