Manitobans will pay higher cigarette and fuel taxes and see the provincial sales tax applied to several new services in a budget that reduces overall spending or increases it, depending on your point of view. Smokers will pay 2.5 cents more per cigarette effective at midnight Wednesday while drivers will pay an extra 2.5 cents per litre to fill their vehicles' fuel tanks as of May 1.
Meanwhile, the government will apply the PST to services such as manicures, pedicures, facials and haircuts that cost more than $50.
Finance Minister Stan Struthers also announced the province would "modernize" Sunday shopping laws, although he provided few details. Currently, most major stores can only open their doors between noon and 6 p.m. on Sundays. Businesses have long called for the ability to set their own Sunday hours.
