As Manitoba and other provinces begin to re-open their economies following the COVID-19 pandemic, a new Probe Research survey finds that citizens want governments to cover their additional spending by getting more taxes from higher-income earners and larger companies.

More than eight-in-ten Manitobans support increasing tax rates for large corporations, with three-quarters backing an increase in income tax rates for high-income earners. Four-in-ten, meanwhile, are in favour of increasing sales taxes, while fewer than one-in-five feel that small businesses should pay tax at a higher rate.

Meanwhile, more than six-in-ten Manitobans (62%) also support having a universal basic income (UBI) provided to citizens. Support for a universal basic income is fairly consistent throughout Manitoba, with younger adults, lower-income households and Indigenous citizens most likely to be in favour of it.

Methodology

Probe Research surveyed a total of N=803 Manitoba adults online between April 24th and 28th, 2020. Respondents were recruited from Probe Research’s proprietary panel and supplemented with those from a national online panel provider. As an online survey is a sample of convenience, no margin-of-error can be ascribed. However, a random and representative non-convenience sample of 803 adults would have a margin of error of ± 3.46 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Minor statistical weighting by age, gender and region has been applied to this sample to ensure that it corresponds with the province as a whole.

Disclosure Statement

Probe Research is a member of the Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC) and confirms that this research fully complies with all CRIC Standards including the CRIC Public Opinion Research Standards and Disclosure Requirements. Learn more at: https://www.canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca/standards/por/