Gas Tax Honesty Day 2003

VICTORIA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today launched the fifth annual Gas Tax Honesty Day, a public awareness campaign to dedicate gas taxes to road renewal.

Federal Government fleecing Motorists at the pumps
" This year Canadian motorists are paying, on average, between 35 and 47% taxes at the pumps," stated CTF British Columbia director Victor Vrsnik. The federal government raked in $4.7 billion last year in fuel taxes, but spent only $119 million or 2.5% on roads. "Gasoline tax revenues are filling up government coffers, while motorists shake, rattle and roll on Canada's deteriorating highways," stated Vrsnik.

"Ottawa has been particularly tight fisted with British Columbia. Of the $800 million in federal gas taxes and GST paid by BC motorists, only $7.9 million, or one percent, was poured back into BC roads in the last fiscal year," noted Vrsnik. Recent commitments by Ottawa to spend $165 million on BC highways and border crossings over the next three years are an improvement over the past record but are still a pittance compared to federal fuel taxes collected from BC motorists. "Ottawa should take note of the BC government's exemplary record of dedicating 111percent of provincial gas taxes and motoring fees on transportation spending last year," said Vrsnik.

The "real deal" for Motorists: What does the next Prime Minister think
" Taxpayers deserve to know where the Liberal leadership aspirants - one of whom will become the next Prime Minister - stand on devoting federal gas taxes to roads," asked Vrsnik. "By assuring a flow of money for roadway improvements and maintenance, all Canadians would benefit from the economic growth generated by road infrastructure investment. From a tax revenue perspective, it's in Ottawa's best interest to pave the way, literally, for enhanced economic development with a dedicated gas tax."

CTF invites Canadians to nominate Canada's Worst Highway
Motorists have an opportunity to nominate Canada's worst highway in the "Highway from Hell" contest to be found on the CTF's website www.taxpayer.com and in the April/May edition of The Taxpayer magazine. Entries will be collected throughout the summer months and the Worst Highway will be announced in September 2003.

Along with a news conference, the CTF also released its updated report - Filling the Infrastructure Gap. The report's key recommendations:

• Ottawa should use it o lose it; dedicate federal gas taxes to Canadian roads or cut the tax.
• End the 1.5 cent/litre gas tax surcharge implemented in 1995 to fight the deficit; and
• Eliminate the GST on taxes at the pumps.