Ten dollars a week. That’s how much Premier Andrew Furey’s gas tax cuts have saved the typical Newfoundland and Labrador family.

One year ago, the Furey government showed leadership by cutting the provincial gas tax by 8.05 cents per litre to help struggling families confront high gas prices and decades-high inflation.

One year later, the typical two-car family filling up once a week has saved $520 at the gas pump. And, thanks to the Furey government’s commitment to extend the tax cut through March of 2024, families can expect to save an additional $400.

In total, the Furey government says the gas tax cut has left hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayers’ wallets, and that tab will continue to grow for the next several months.

Furey’s gas tax cut may seem like old news given that it’s been in place for a whole year. But the tax cut is a significant policy move that has meant Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have had the lowest tax burden at the pumps, other than drivers in Alberta.

It’s also significant because Furey’s Liberals are recognizing the harm done by the federal Liberal government’s tax hikes.

After the Trudeau government first announced its carbon tax mandate, Furey’s predecessor imposed a provincial carbon tax. The Newfoundland and Labrador government increased it annually, in line with Ottawa’s requirements. But when the Furey government signalled its opposition to raising taxes again late last year, the feds announced plans to impose a federal carbon tax on the province as of July 1, 2023. On that date, the carbon tax burden Newfoundlanders and Labradorians face will go up by another four cents per litre.

The federal carbon tax hike in July will lead to a spike in gas taxes of four cents per litre at the pumps. But the Furey government’s gas tax cut will help to shield taxpayers from this heavier burden imposed by politicians in their ivory towers in Ottawa.

Furey is the only Liberal premier in Canada who has both spoken out against Trudeau’s carbon tax hikes and introduced provincial gas tax cuts to help offset Ottawa’s punitive policies. Furey has noted that carbon tax hikes place “undue economic burdens on the people of this province.”

Newfoundland and Labrador taxpayers are also in the minority in terms of saving at the gas pumps. Only Alberta and Ontario have also implemented provincial gas tax relief.

Furey hasn’t been afraid to speak out about the detrimental impact Ottawa’s carbon tax hikes are having on hardworking taxpayers. He knows it increases living costs. That’s why he delivered gas tax relief and has extended that relief period, not once, but twice.

One in five Canadians are now saying they are skipping meals to help make ends meet. Food costs are up nearly $1,000 over last year. Ottawa is tone deaf by imposing carbon tax hikes and Furey is responding to the plight of taxpayers by repeatedly trying to counteract Ottawa’s moves.

Over the past 12 months, taxpayers filling up two cars once a week have saved over $500 thanks to Furey’s gas tax cut. That’s real money that pays for two weeks of groceries for a family of four.

Furey needs to continue his work on lowering costs for taxpayers and he should call on his fellow premiers to follow suit. Over the past year, the Furey government has helped lower costs for households and has tried to shield taxpayers from some of the hardest burdens imposed by Ottawa’s carbon tax. It’s good to report that Furey intends to keep up his fight for affordability well into next year.