A Manitoba senior says she fears losing her home, thanks to a rebate change she believes broke two election promises.

“I would have gotten a rebate of $2,200. (Now) I don’t get anything,” said Maureen McGregor of changes to the seniors education tax rebate. “It meant that I could keep my home and have my home for my grandchildren and family.”

McGregor said taxes are high on her Tuxedo home and a retiree’s fixed income makes it tough to meet all her bills. She said her budget is based partly on the education tax relief, so she made repeated efforts to determine the Conservative stance on the issue before voting Tory.

After hearing Progressive Conservative leader Brian Pallister commit to keep the rebate in a radio call-in show just before she was set to ask that very question, she said she felt reassured. To be safe, she asked Deputy Premier Heather Stefanson’s office the same question, also during the election campaign.

An email that appears to be from Stefanson’s office notes: “Per your question regarding seniors property tax rebates; the PC Party will commit to ensure that seniors are rebated as they have been under the current government.”

McGregor said the answer satisfied her concern.

“Based on that, they had my vote. I think politicians should be accountable. They can’t go around saying anything just to get a vote,” said McGregor.

But the Tories later announced portions of the rebate would be clawed back in their 2016 budget. School tax rebates no longer apply to seniors with household incomes greater than $63,500, while those earning less than $40,000 will get a $470 rebate.

The NDP’s 2015 budget papers note the rebate was set to be fully implemented this year to an annual limit of $2,300, leaving only about 2% of senior homeowners paying some school tax.

Premier Brian Pallister said he did keep his promise to continue the rebate but doesn’t deny he instituted a change to the rebate that he didn’t campaign on.

“I think that’s a fair criticism, actually. We didn’t know during the election campaign ... the magnitude of the problem we’d inherit,” he said.

“I was planning to continue it as it was,” he added.

Pallister said his government was forced to make adjustments to its budget to cope with a core deficit he expects to reach $1 billion for 2015-16, well above a previous NDP estimate of $646 million.

The tax rebate change is expected to save the province about $44.5 million per year.