Taxpayers call for gas tax cut extension in Ontario fiscal update
Toronto, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Ontario Premier Doug Ford to extend the province’s temporary gas tax cut for another year as part of the government’s fall economic update.
“Premier Doug Ford has it within his power to protect Ontario taxpayers from a New Year’s gas tax hike,” said CTF Ontario Director Jay Goldberg. “Ford’s gas tax cut has delivered meaningful relief to Ontario families, but those gains will be up in smoke unless he extends the cut into 2024.”
The Ford government cut the province’s gas tax by 6.4 cents per litre on July 1, 2022. Since then, the average two-car Ontario family has saved more than $500. The tax cut is set to expire Jan. 1, 2024. The government has announced its fall fiscal update will be presented Nov. 2.
“Ontarians are struggling with soaring living costs,” Goldberg said. “The bills for rent, groceries and other essentials have been rising and taxpayers are struggling to keep pace. The last thing Ontarians need is a gas tax hike.”
Taxpayers have saved more than $1.5 billion thanks to the government’s temporary gas tax cut.
“Ontarians need to know they can count on tax cut savings beyond the end of this year,” Goldberg said. “Now is the perfect time for the government to act and assure taxpayers that savings will stretch into 2024.”