The Progressive Conservatives are promising, if re-elected, they will nearly double the charitable donation tax credit.
Kelvin Goertzen, the PC candidate for Steinbach, made the announcement Friday morning, noting this change would increase the rebate on the first $200 charitable donation from 10.8 per cent to 20 per cent. For contributions over $200, the rebate would jump from 17.4 per cent to 25 per cent. Goertzen says this change would mean Manitoba would have the most generous charitable tax credit in the country.
"Today's announcement is about what it really means to be a Manitoban," says Goertzen. "Manitobans give, it's who we are, it's in our DNA, Manitobans give of their time, of their money and they give from the heart."
Goertzen says in 2021, more than 192,000 Manitobans gave to charity. He says he is constantly in awe when he hears of charities smashing fundraising targets each year.
"The most generous province in Canada should be recognized with the most generous charitable tax credits," he adds.
Carrie Hiebert, the PC candidate for Morden-Winkler, joined Goertzen for Friday's announcement. She says these changes will have a big impact on her constituency.
"We have a really generous community, and I just think it's really great to be able to help the community, and help people give to organizations and charities."
She noted, charities do so much in our communities.
"They pull us through, especially now with all the different things happening with affordability and cost of groceries and gas. Things are just so much more than they've been in the past. Those are things that are really being pulled in, the food banks and the different organizations that are helping people that need it."=
Hiebert added, it's great to live in a community that is so generous and thinks of others.
"I think it's such an important part of who we are, where we come from, and I just want to say thank-you. Thank-you on behalf of the charities and organizations in our community but thank-you for the people who need them as well."
Goertzen noted Friday's announcement will cost $12 million annually. However, he says it will save and benefit far more than it will ever cost because of the impact it will have on individuals.
With files from Shannon Dueck
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