The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the federal government to scrap its plan to increase the carbon tax in Atlantic Canada next week on July 1. 

“The Parliamentary Budget Officer is clear: the federal carbon tax will cost Atlantic Canadian families hundreds of dollars more than they get back in rebates,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “Families can’t afford to be taxed hundreds of dollars more every year, so Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to scrap his plans to make life more expensive.”

On July 1, the federal government is increasing the carbon tax to 14 cents per litre of gasoline in Atlantic Canada. The carbon tax alone will cost a family more than $10 every time they fuel up their minivan. 

The federal carbon tax will cost the average household in Atlantic Canada between $347 and $465 this year, even after the rebates, according to the PBO. 

“Most households will see a net loss, paying more in fuel charges and GST, as well as receiving lower incomes, compared to the Climate Action Incentive payments they receive and lower personal income taxes they pay,” according to the PBO. 

“Families are barely getting by because of high inflation and higher carbon taxes will make life even more expensive,” said Jay Goldberg, interim Atlantic Director of the CTF. “Atlantic Canadians can’t afford a carbon tax hike, but that’s exactly what’s about to happen courtesy of the federal government.”