Winnipeg, May 1, 2025 – Today’s announcement that the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) will issue $122 million in surplus rebates to employers is welcome news for small businesses navigating economic uncertainty.
“Today’s rebate is a meaningful step for small business owners who continue to face rising input costs, labour shortages, and low consumer demand,” said Brianna Solberg, CFIB’s Director of Provincial Affairs for the Prairies and Northern Canada. “These funds can be reinvested directly into businesses to retain staff, improve workplace safety, and support growth, all without jeopardizing the financial health of the WCB.”
The Manitoba government also confirmed that previously announced tax deferrals for the Retail Sales Tax and the Health and Post-Secondary Education Tax Levy (HE Levy) will deliver an estimated $840 million in short-term liquidity to businesses. While helpful, CFIB emphasizes that temporary cash flow measures must be followed by permanent tax changes to ensure long-term competitiveness.
On behalf of small businesses in Manitoba, CFIB continues to call for targeted tax relief, including:
- Eliminating the Health and Post-Secondary Education Tax Levy, a harmful payroll tax that punishes job creation;
- Increasing the small business income threshold to $600,000 to match other provinces like Saskatchewan; and
- Removing the Retail Sales Tax on capital purchases, such as machinery and equipment, to encourage productivity-enhancing investments.
“Workers’ compensation premiums are one of the most burdensome taxes for small firms because they’re profit-insensitive. Business owners appreciate getting some of that money back, but they shouldn’t have to wait and hope for discretionary rebates,” said Tyler Slobogian, Senior Policy Analyst for the Prairies & Northern Canada.
CFIB is urging Manitoba to follow Ontario’s lead by legislating the WCB surplus rebate policy. Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is required by law to return excess funds when its funding level exceeds 125%, resulting in consistent and transparent relief for employers.
To support Manitoba’s small business community, CFIB recommends the province:
- Legislate the return of WCB surplus funds to eligible employers;
- Implement mandatory and regular rebate policies;
- Improve WCB transparency by publishing funding levels on a set schedule.
“Manitoba small businesses are doing their part to stay afloat in tough conditions. The province must build on today’s announcement with long-term, structural tax changes that truly support business investment and job creation,” Solberg said.
For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:
Brianna Solberg, CFIB
306-713-8071
brianna.solberg@cfib.ca
About CFIB
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 100,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.
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