Toronto, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to scrap the carbon tax as Ontario gas prices rise to their highest levels in two years.

“Ontarians are barely making ends meet and the Trudeau government’s carbon tax is making life more expensive for hardworking taxpayers,” said CTF Ontario Director Jay Goldberg. “It’s time for the feds to recognize that punishing taxpayers for driving to work and bringing the kids to school is breaking family budgets. The carbon tax must go.”

If the Trudeau government scrapped its carbon tax, Ontario drivers would save 17.6 cents per litre at the pumps, which works out to about $13.20 when filling up a minivan.

“The amount of money taxpayers would save at the pump without the carbon tax isn’t chump change,” said Goldberg. “It’s $13 per fill-up and could save Ontario families hundreds of dollars over the course of a full year.”

The carbon tax costs average Ontario families $627 per year, even after accounting for rebates, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

Experts are predicting that gas prices will go up by 14 cents per litre tomorrow to $1.79 per litre.