Ottawa: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) will hold a photo opportunity tomorrow morning (Tuesday, October 26) on Parliament Hill to unveil over 65,000 gasoline tax petitions in advance of a meeting with the Hon. John Godfrey, Minister of State (Infrastructure and Communities). The CTF earlier delivered 50,000 gas tax petitions to Paul Martin, then-Minister of Finance, in 2000.

The CTF's petition calls on Ottawa to dedicate 50 per cent of gas tax revenues to all municipalities for roadway development, in the form of a Municipal Roadway Trust (MRT), and to return the remaining half to motorists and taxpayers in the form of lower gasoline taxes. Over 1,500 mayors and councilors from over 450 municipalities have also signed the gas tax petition.


What: Photo Opportunity to Unveil Gas Tax Petitions
Where: 130-S, House of Commons
When: 9:30 am (scheduled for 15 minutes) - Tuesday, October 26, 2004

As part of its annual Gas Tax Honesty Campaign, the CTF first proposed a MRT in May, 2002, in response to growing demand from municipalities for funds to cover roadway construction and maintenance costs. The Municipal Roadway Trust is a practical model for returning half of the federal gas tax revenues directly to cities and towns across Canada.

The CTF began its Gas Tax Honesty Campaign in 1999 to inform Canadians of the gasoline taxes they pay at the pumps, to ensure gasoline taxes are dedicated toward road construction, and to pressure Ottawa to cut gasoline taxes not spent on road construction. More information on this year's Gas Tax Honesty campaign and the MRT can be found here.