• Tax relief must form a key part of governments’ economic rescue efforts
• Tax hikes should be postponed for the duration of coronavirus crisis, including the planned federal carbon tax hike scheduled for April 1
• Federal parliamentarians should also forego pay hike planned for April 1

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation today called on governments across Canada to postpone any planned tax hikes for the duration of the coronavirus crisis, including the planned April 1 increase in the federal carbon tax.

“This is an unprecedented global crisis, and the immediate focus of governments is ensuring the health and safety of Canadians,” said CTF Federal Director Aaron Wudrick. “As they contemplate various measures as part of an economic rescue effort to assist Canadians through this challenging situation, minimizing the tax burden must be a central element.”

Wudrick noted that various taxes, including the federal carbon tax, are also scheduled to rise on April 1 and should be postponed.

“With many Canadian businesses shuttered and millions of people losing income, the last thing Canadians need right now are higher taxes driving up the costs they still face,” noted Wudrick. “Speed is of the essence, and tax relief has the clear benefit of being simple and instantaneous.”

Wudrick also called on federal parliamentarians to forego their scheduled pay increase on April 1.

“I am sure all parliamentarians would agree that this is the wrong time for politicians to get a salary bump when millions of Canadians are struggling,” said Wudrick.