Manitoba government decreasing some vehicle registration fees this summer

The Manitoba government is reducing vehicle registration fees this summer, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler says.

Registration fees on non-commercial vehicles will decrease by $10 starting July 1, the minister said in a news release.

The decrease is part of a promise made in this year's provincial budget and aims to make life slightly more affordable for Manitobans, Schuler says.

Non-commercial vehicleswhich includes most cars, sport utility vehicles and light trucks will now have an annual registration fee of $129, the release says.

That's down from the current fee of $139.

Other non-commercial vehicles, such as motorcycles and mopeds and " farm and personal-use" trucks and trailers, will see a cut of three dollars, said Schuler during a news conference.

The move should save Manitoba driversabout $15 million, the release says.

Schuler was asked during a news conference whether cutting the fees, which are handled by Manitoba Public Insurance, is prudent given the province's current debt.

He believes it is.

"Maybe not everybody will find it as significant as some families that do live from paycheque-to-paycheque. We think now's the time to give relief," he said.

But the move was also about fulfilling an election promise made by the Progressive Conservatives during the 2019 election campaign, Schuler said.

The PCs had promised to reverse a $35 increase in vehicle registration fees that was implemented by the NDP administration in 2012.

Schuler promisedthat another cut tovehicle registration fees will be announced next year to fulfilthe commitment.

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