Vancouver, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the provincial and federal governments to cut gas taxes in response to today’s Statistics Canada report that shows soaring pump prices in British Columbia. 

“British Columbians are paying the highest gas prices in North America, and that’s fueled by the highest gas taxes in North America,” said Carson Binda, B.C. Director of the CTF. “Provincial and federal gas taxes cost a family in Vancouver more than $50 every time they fuel up their minivan.”

“Year-over-year gasoline prices increased at a slower rate in every province in September compared with August, except in British Columbia,” according to Statistics Canada’s consumer price report released today. “In September, prices for gasoline increased by 27.0 per cent in British Columbia compared with an increase of 17.7 per cent in August.”

B.C. drivers pay the highest gas taxes in Canada. Provincial and federal gas taxes cost about 75 cents per litre in Vancouver, 67 cents per litre in Victoria and 61 cents per litre in the rest of the province.
 

Governments in Alberta, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador recently cut gas taxes. The CTF identified 51 national governments that cut taxes during the pandemic or to ease the burden of inflation. 

“British Columbians are feeling the pain of high gas prices and high taxes are making things much worse,” said Binda. “Premier John Horgan needs to follow the lead of other premiers and cut gas taxes now.”