Tax hike translates to 1,000s of jobs, Selinger says

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger says his government's sales tax increase has already led to infrastructure work for thousands of people.

Selinger has issued a year-end message to NDP members in which he asks for donations to the party.

Selinger says it wasn't an easy decision to raise the sales tax to eight per cent from seven per cent in July.

But he says it was necessary to match federal funds for infrastructure projects that have created work for thousands of Manitobans.

Ralph Eichler, infrastructure critic for the Opposition Progressive Conservatives, is questioning that number.

Eichler says while the government has announced plans for some infrastructure projects, work is not close to getting underway.