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Manitoba’s NDP government is raising the provincial sales tax and side-stepping a law that requires a referendum on the issue.

Tuesday’s provincial budget increases the sales tax to 8% from 7% effective July 1. The province’s balanced budget law requires a public vote on any increase to the sales tax, but the government said it has no time for a vote because it needs money to build flood-fighting projects.

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“We’ll waive the requirement … for a referendum,” Finance Minister Stan Struthers said. “We think we need to move very quickly. We can’t afford to lose a construction season.”

Manitoba was hit with one of the worst floods on record in 2011, with costs totalling more than $1.2-billion. Much of that will be recovered from the federal government through cost-shared disaster programs.

This year has turned out to be another wet one, and two independent reviews have urged the government to take new steps to fight flooding. The recommendations include a second outlet on Lake St. Martin and a new reservoir or channel on the Assiniboine River.