Manitoba PST hike to become law, despite Tory opposition

The Manitoba government's sales tax increase is set to become law, but the Opposition Tories aren't giving up their fight against it quietly.

The PST went up in July to eight per cent from seven, but the budget bill making it official has been stalled in the legislature by the Tories.

With the clock ticking toward Thursday night's final vote, Tory house leader Kelvin Goertzen called on NDP backbenchers to vote against the bill.

He repeatedly suggested that "just one" New Democrat should vote "no" as a symbolic gesture to keep an NDP election promise not to raise taxes.

Finance Minister Jennifer Howard said the tax hike is needed to fund infrastructure projects.

The tax increase bill was among dozens that were almost certainly to pass into law minutes before the legislature was to break for the holidays.