Toronto, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is applauding Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie’s announcement that she will not impose a provincial carbon tax on Ontarians should she win the next election.

“It’s good to see Crombie recognize that carbon taxes don’t work and only serve to make life more expensive for hardworking taxpayers,” said CTF Ontario Director Jay Goldberg. “Now it’s time for Crombie to pick up the phone, call Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and tell him to stop punishing Ontarians with a carbon tax at the federal level.”

The federal carbon tax is costing the average Ontario family $627 this year, even after the rebates, according to the non-partisan Parliamentary Budget Officer.

Sixty-nine per cent of Canadians want the Trudeau government to cancel this year’s carbon tax increase, scheduled for April 1, according to a Leger poll.

“Premier Doug Ford has called on the Trudeau government to stop this year’s federal carbon tax increase and Ontario taxpayers need Crombie to do the same,” said Goldberg. “Liberal leaders in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have all called on Trudeau to halt the tax hike. Crombie needs to step up.”