The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on federal Liberal members of Parliament in Manitoba to oppose the federal carbon tax ahead of the next Liberal caucus meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

“Manitoba government MPs need to stand up for their constituents and demand an end to the carbon tax at the next caucus meeting,” said Gage Haubrich, Prairie Director of the CTF. “The carbon tax makes it more expensive for Manitobans to gas up their vehicles and heat their homes and families need relief.”

Media reports state a group of Liberal MPs are anonymously saying that the government needs to scrap the carbon tax.

Manitoba has four Liberal MPs: Dan Vandal, Ben Carr, Terry Duguid and Kevin Lamoureaux.

The carbon tax will cost the average Manitoba household $152 more than the rebates this year, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer. By 2030, that cost jumps to $693.

This year, the carbon tax costs 17 cents per litre of gasoline, 21 cents per litre of diesel and 15 cents per cubic metre of natural gas.

The carbon tax adds about $13 in costs to fill up a minivan, about $20 to fill up a pickup and about $200 to fill up a big rig truck.

The average household in Manitoba will pay $318 extra on their natural gas home heating bills this year because of the carbon tax.

“Its time for Vandal, Carr, Duguid and Lamoureaux to stand with their colleagues from Atlantic Canada and fight the carbon tax,” Haubrich said. “Manitoba families are paying hundreds of dollars extra to heat their homes this winter because of the carbon tax and local MPs need to help their constituents and push to end the carbon tax.”