CTF’s 14th Annual Gas Tax Honesty Day

Sign the CTF's Gas Tax Petition

CALGARY, AB: Marking its 14th annual Gas Tax Honesty Day, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) renewed its call for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to stop the practice of charging GST on top of provincial and federal gas taxes – the tax-on-tax.

“At one time Stephen Harper’s Conservatives were committed to ending the unethical practice of charging the GST on the entire price of gasoline, including provincial and federal gas taxes. We’re hoping he still feels the same way,” said CTF-Alberta director Scott Hennig.

In 2004, the Conservative Party wrote in a national news release: “The fastest and easiest way to give Canadians relief at the pump is for the federal government to stop charging GST on top of gasoline excise taxes. It’s time to axe the tax on the tax.”

Every year before the May long-weekend, the CTF holds its Gas Tax Honesty Day as a reminder to motorists that over 21 per cent of the price at the pump is taxes, many of them hidden. In addition, the CTF today released calculations detailing gas tax breakdowns in every province.

Speaking from a gas station in Calgary, Alberta director Scott Hennig stated, “We can have a debate on what the appropriate level of taxation should be, but charging tax-on-tax is just plain wrong.”

The CTF calculations also found that provinces with lower gas taxes see most of those savings passed on to consumers. “The evidence is clear: lower gas taxes mean lower pump prices,” said Hennig. “Don’t let politicians fool you into thinking that cutting gas taxes won’t result in relief at the pump.”

The CTF held Gas Tax Honesty Day events with press conferences in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Halifax.

Details and provincial breakdowns can be found HERE.

A graphic contrasting current tax-on-tax with the CTF's proposal can be found HERE