Manitoba shares the highest inflation rate in Canada with Nova Scotia, driven primarily by escalating food prices. Statistics Canada’s latest consumer price index data reveals a 4.3% increase in overall inflation in these two provinces over the past year. In contrast, the nationwide inflation rate rose by 2.8%, partly attributed to the impact of the war in Iran on rising costs.
Prof. Sylvain Charlebois, the director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, expressed concerns over the potential prolonged Iranian conflict leading to higher grocery prices. He highlighted the significant increase in food inflation in Manitoba, which stood at 4.9% between April 2025 and April 2026, exceeding the national average by about a full percentage point.
Manitoba also witnessed a substantial spike in property taxes, surging by more than 19%. This increase was notably higher than the next-highest province, British Columbia, which saw a rise of 8.5%. Additionally, Manitoba led in food inflation for items purchased from stores, fruits, fish, seafood, and other marine products.
Furthermore, the province experienced notable price hikes in meat, with a 6.7% increase overall. However, specific meat products like fresh or frozen pork rose by 5.2%, whereas fresh or frozen poultry decreased by 0.4%. Charlebois attributed some of these price escalations to increased transportation and trucking costs.
Aside from food, Manitobans faced price surges in clothing, footwear, electricity, and health and personal care goods. These sectors witnessed notable price increments compared to the previous year. The Progressive Conservative finance critic, Lauren Stone, criticized the inflation numbers, emphasizing the province’s affordability challenges.
Finance Minister Adrien Sala defended the government’s efforts to address cost pressures through regional initiatives, including a proposed cut in the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) on grocery items. He highlighted the government’s commitment to easing the financial burden on Manitobans amid increasing living costs.
In response to political tensions regarding tax relief measures, Sala urged for bipartisan support to implement necessary savings for residents. Charlebois underscored the potential benefits of the proposed PST cut on packaged foods, offering some relief to households in Manitoba.