OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released Leger polling showing 62 per cent of Canadians want the federal government to remove its sales tax from the carbon tax as part of the annual Gas Tax Honesty press conference in the nation’s capital. 

“The poll results are crystal clear: the vast majority of Canadians want the federal government to end its carbon tax-on-tax,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director. “If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau really wanted to make life more affordable, he would end his gas tax-on-tax.”

The federal government applies its sales tax after all the per-litre taxes are added. This is known as tax-on-tax. 

The PBO estimates removing the GST paid on the carbon tax would save taxpayers $595 million this year and more than $1 billion annually by 2030. This money is not rebated back to Canadians.

The Leger poll asked Canadians if they support or oppose the federal government removing the GST on the carbon tax. The results of the poll show:

• 62 per cent support ending this tax-on-tax
• 22 per cent oppose ending this tax-on-tax
• 16 per cent don’t know

Among those who are decided on the issue, 74 per cent support ending the carbon tax-on-tax. 

“Canadians know the carbon tax is costing them more than the rebates they get back because they also pay this tax-on-tax,” Terrazzano said. “Ending the tax-on-tax at the gas pumps and making life more affordable should be a no-brainer.”

The CTF’s Gas Tax Honesty Report shows taxes cost 60 cents per litre of gas, on average. Federal taxes make up about 35 cents per litre of gas. By 2030, federal gas taxes will cost about 74 cents per litre because of higher carbon taxes. 

“The big tax bill at the pumps is about to get bigger because of Trudeau’s carbon tax hikes,” Terrazzano said. “Trudeau should make life more affordable by cutting gas taxes, scrapping the carbon tax and ending his tax-on-tax.”

The CTF’s 26^th annual Gas Tax Honesty Report can be found HERE.