SAINT JOHN, NB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is holding their 13th Annual Gas Tax Honesty Day to inform Canadians about the amount of taxes they pay at the pumps and to hold governments accountable for those dollars.
This year’s calculations show that Nova Scotian drivers pay among the highest combined gas taxes in Canada and the tax bill has increased since last year.
“Nova Scotians are paying the third highest gas taxes in the country. Set against the fact that Nova Scotians are already the highest taxed in Canada, the excessive gas taxes just adds fuel to the fire,” said Kevin Lacey, Atlantic Canada Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Calculations done by the CTF show drivers in Nova Scotia pay 43 cents a litre in federal, provincial excise taxes and HST. Only drivers in British Columbia (46 cents a litre, including carbon tax) and Quebec (44 cents a litre) pay more tax than Nova Scotians. The national average per litre tax in Canada is 37 cents. (Note: Information can be found HERE on the top of page 2).
Speaking from a gas station in Saint John, Lacey noted “Canadians are paying sky-high prices at the pump. The government must be held accountable for its share in creating this heavy burden. It should cut back some of the 43 cent per litre tax it levies on drivers.”
Thanks to the HST being charged on top federal/provincial excise taxes, and the 2 point increase in the HST, the average driver is now paying about 5 cents/litre more in tax this year than at last year’s Gas Tax Honesty Day.
“We can reasonably debate what the appropriate level of taxation should be, but charging tax-on-tax is clearly abusive,” said Lacey.
The CTF calculations also found that provinces with lower gas taxes see most of those savings passed on to consumers. “The evidence is clear: lower gas taxes mean lower pump prices,” said Lacey. “Don’t let politicians fool you into thinking that cutting gas taxes won’t result in relief at the pump.”
The CTF is holding Gas Tax Honesty Day events in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Saint John.
Details and provincial breakdowns can be found HERE.
A graph breaking down a litre of gasoline can be found HERE.
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