Toronto, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles to join other leaders in her party to oppose the carbon tax.

“Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is backing away from the carbon tax and so are other NDP leaders across the country,” said CTF Ontario Director Jay Goldberg. “Stiles needs to stand with taxpayers and other NDP leaders to fight the carbon tax.” 

B.C. NDP Premier David Eby announced last week that British Columbia will scrap its provincial carbon tax if a future federal government removes the national requirement for one.

Saskatchewan’s opposition NDP has also publicly opposed the federal carbon tax, while Manitoba NDP Premier Wab Kinew has asked for his province to be exempt.

Stiles has yet to clearly say whether she supports the federal carbon tax or if she would impose one on Ontarians if the federal tax were to be eliminated. Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie has committed not to impose a provincial carbon tax should she be elected premier.

The federal carbon tax costs 17.6 cents per litre of gasoline, which works out to about $13 to fill up a minivan. The carbon tax also costs 21 cents per litre of diesel. The carbon tax is a net cost for average families, even after rebates, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

The average Ontario household will pay around $380 extra in carbon tax on natural gas to heat their homes this winter.

“The carbon tax makes everything more expensive, from filling up at the pump to buying food at the grocery store,” said Goldberg. “Now is the time for the Ontario NDP to stand up for taxpayers and clearly oppose the carbon tax.”