OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is warning Atlantic Canadians that the federal government’s carbon tax hike will increase gas prices and home heating bills. 

“The Trudeau government continues to mislead Canadians, but the government’s independent budget watchdog proves the federal carbon tax is costing families hundreds of dollars even after the rebates,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “Despite the government’s spin, the carbon tax will mean higher gas prices and home heating bills for Atlantic Canadians.”

The Trudeau government claims that “families are going to be better off” with its carbon tax and rebate scheme. However, a Parliamentary Budget Officer report shows the carbon tax will cost the average household between $402 and $847 in 2023, even after the rebates. 

The federal government announced it will impose its carbon tax in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador next July. The federal carbon tax will be $65 per tonne in July 2023. 

The federal carbon tax will add 14 cents per litre to the price of gasoline and 12 cents per cubic metre of natural gas. The federal carbon tax is going to up to 37 cents per litre of gas by 2030. 

“Cash-strapped Atlantic Canadians can’t afford to pay more at the pumps and on home heating,” said Jay Goldberg, Interim Atlantic Director of the CTF. “The federal carbon tax already costs families hundreds of dollars a year in the rest of Canada even after the rebates. The federal carbon tax will break family budgets across the region.