Manitoba Government Makes Groceries More Affordable

The Manitoba government will save Manitobans $24 million by removing provincial sales tax (PST) from all grocery food items, Premier Wab Kinew announced today.

“Manitobans are feeling the cost of groceries every week,” said Kinew. “Budget 2026 offers real relief for Manitoba families on the items you pick up when you are in a rush to feed the family before hockey practice and swimming lessons.”

Starting July 1, the Manitoba government will remove PST from all grocery food items, including previously taxed items like rotisserie chicken, sandwiches and samosas. Other items exempt from tax include:

• self-serve, ready-to-eat prepared foods such as sandwiches, soups, rotisserie chickens, prepared fruits and vegetables and platters;
• beverages such as carbonated drinks, fruit juices, dealcoholized beer and wine;
• baked goods, including single-serving items previously subject to tax; and
• snack foods such as candy, chips, salted nuts and granola.

“Any savings at the checkout can make a real difference for families living on the margins,” said Vince Barletta, president and CEO of Harvest Manitoba. “For someone already stretching every dollar, saving $100 a year on groceries can mean a few more meals on the table or one less impossible choice between food and other essentials. We’re currently seeing record levels of need, with up to 60,000 Manitobans accessing food banks each month. Any measure that helps ease the cost of food is a step in the right direction.”

Budget 2026 builds on the Manitoba government’s recent actions including freezing the price of one litre of milk, introducing legislation to address predatory pricing and bringing in legislation that requires stores to clearly show how property controls contribute to the public interest.

More information on Budget 2026 can be found at https://gov.mb.ca/budget2026.