"Running on Empty, Fuming to Ottawa" Tour rolls through northern Ontario


Toronto: To build support for lower gasoline taxes and to return of a portion of federal gas taxes to municipalities, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is driving a decorated minivan from Victoria, BC to Ottawa, Ontario. The van will be traveling through the communities of Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and Barrie between June 13 and June 15, starting with a news conference at Sault Ste. Marie City Hall on Sunday June 13 at 10 a.m.

"We may not be able to affect the world price of oil, but we can affect gas taxes, especially during an election campaign when we have the ears of politicians," said federal director John Williamson. "We want to build momentum for Ottawa to dedicate half of federal gas tax revenues to road construction and maintenance, and for a gasoline tax cut of 5 cents per litre to give consumers a break at the pumps. The CTF is asking: Where do our political leaders stand on these questions "

On the tour, the CTF is raising awareness of the gasoline tax bite, meeting with municipal politicians and taxpayers, and inviting them to sign the CTF's gas tax petition. The CTF is also demanding Ottawa eliminate the 1.5 cent/litre deficit tax as a first step; remove the GST (and HST where applicable) charged on the federal and provincial levies that total 19 to 30 cents per litre of gasoline to net another 1.5 cents in savings; and reduce the federal gasoline levy by an additional 2 cents.

The planned route map is posted on the CTF website at: http://www.taxpayer.com/fumingtour.htm.

• Sault Ste Marie: June 13
• Sudbury: June 14
• Barrie: June 15