VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Premier David Eby to lower fuel taxes as Vancouver and Victoria rank first and second for the highest gas taxes in the country, according to the 2024 edition of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation Gas Tax Honesty Report.

“British Columbians are struggling every time they go to the gas station and the premier needs to do what other provinces are doing and give people a break,” said Carson Binda, British Columbia director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “It’s unacceptable that British Columbians are paying the highest gas taxes in the country.”

Drivers in Vancouver and Victoria topped the national gas-tax rankings this year. In Vancouver, taxes account for an average of 81 cents per litre, in Victoria it’s 74 cents per litre and across the rest of the province the tax bill amounts to 68 cents per litre.

Across B.C., on a litre of gasoline, drivers pay 8.5 - 14.5 cents in provincial excise taxes. They pay another 35.6 cents for the carbon tax and a second carbon tax embedded in fuel standards. Then there’s another 10 cents in federal excise taxes and between 8 and 8.6 cents in federal sales taxes. In Vancouver and Victoria, drivers also face transit taxes which cost 18.5 and 5.5 cents per litre respectively.

All of the taxes levied against a litre of gasoline lead to big tax bills on every tank of gas. In Vancouver, the tax bill alone on a 64-litre fillup of gasoline comes to $52, while in Victoria it’s $47.50 and across the rest of the province it sits at $43.60.

“The taxes alone on a minivan fill-up costs more than home-cooked dinner for a family of four,” said Binda. “Politicians from all political parties need to commit to making life more affordable by cutting taxes on gas during the upcoming provincial election.”

The Federal Parliamentary Budget Officer has also been clear that “Canada’s own emissions are not large enough to materially impact climate change.”

“Carbon taxes cause a lot of pocket-book pain for ordinary families, without any meaningful environmental gain,” said Binda. “Taxing British Columbians for heating their homes or driving to work won’t solve a global problem like climate change.”