The lawsuit over the provincial sales take hike headed to a Winnipeg court Wednesday. The case was streamed live on CTV Winnipeg's site and on other media platforms.
Robert Tapper, the lawyer for the Progressive Conservatives, said the Selinger government did not have the legal right to raise the PST to eight per cent last year.
The province introduced legislation to hike the tax and eliminate a required referendum at the same time. Instead, Tapper argued the referendum measure had to be voted on first.
“The government performed a shortcut end run that trifled with the democratic and constitutional rights of Manitobans and that should be sent, I submit, back to the drawing board,” Tapper told court.
"We're doing what we promised what we would do. We're standing up for Manitobans while the government is defending its own rights to take away rights from Manitobans," said PC Leader Brian Pallister outside Law Courts.
“There is simply no basis for this court to interfere with a key element of a provincial budget (because) that's what we're talking about,” argued Jonathan Kroft, the government’s lawyer.
Manitoba's finance minister said the lawsuit is more about political theatre than anything else.
“To try to involve the courts with what is a partisan discussion, I think, is a stunt. I think that is a political tactic,” said Jennifer Howard.
The judge has put over a decision in the matter to a later date.
- with a report from Jeff Keele
