• Charging sales tax on top of excise taxes needs to stop; axe the tax-on-tax

• CTF celebrates 18th annual Gas Tax Honesty Day

Related: Ontario | British Columbia | Alberta

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on the federal government to end the practice of calculating the HST/GST after provincial and federal excise taxes have already been charged. This practice of “tax-on-tax” was highlighted as part of the CTF’s 18th annual Gas Tax Honesty Day, with press conferences held across the country from Vancouver to Fredericton.

"A few extra cents per litre may not sound like much, but it adds up quickly. Eliminating the tax-on-tax would save Canadians a total of $1.6 billion each year," said CTF Federal Director Aaron Wudrick.

The CTF’s annual Gas Tax Honesty report shows that taxes make up most of the price difference between at the pump from province to province, and even city to city. Alberta and Saskatchewan have the lowest gas prices because they have the lowest gas taxes and Vancouver and Montreal have the highest prices because they have the highest gas taxes – although Newfoundland will soon take the top spot due to the HST hike scheduled to take effect on June 2nd.

“It’s astounding that 37 per cent of the price at the pump is actually hidden gas taxes,” said Wudrick, “It’s 47 per cent in Montreal. It’s a hidden tax rip-off that all Canadians must bear to different degrees”

The CTF is also warning that Canadians should beware talk of new or increased carbon taxes being imposed across the country.

“No matter how they are pitched, the fact remains that carbon taxes are imposed explicitly to make life more for expensive for Canadians," said Wudrick.

You can download a copy of the CTF’s 2016 Gas Tax Honesty report HERE.

 
For more information:

Federal Director Aaron Wudrick
Cell: 613-295-8409                      Office: 613-234-6554
Email: [email protected]       Twitter: @awudrick