CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) marked its 15th Annual Gas Tax Honesty Day, urging federal and provincial governments across Canada to eliminate charging taxes on top of taxes for gasoline.
"Governments have the system rigged to ensure they squeeze every bit of tax revenue out of working families,” said Kevin Lacey Atlantic Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “It’s time to give drivers some relief at the pumps,"
On April 1st 2013, Islanders started paying a new HST on gas. The HST is calculated after provincial and federal governments add excise taxes to gasoline, meaning drivers get charged a tax-on-tax. Tax-on-tax costs working families 3.2 cents/L and in total federal and provincial governments will raise approximately $1.6 billion on the backs of working families through the tax-on-tax. Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised when in opposition to eliminate this double tax.
Overall the tax burden on drivers is increasing dramatically on PEI this year. Average working families will pay around $100 more in total gas tax. In 2013, they will pay $1,200 in taxes on gasoline a year.
"Enough is enough, Islanders over the past three years have seen the price of gas go up and up and up, now on top of that you are paying an unfair tax-on-tax," says Lacey.
The CTF estimates that federal and provincial governments will take more in taxes this year than last year.
"The evidence is clear: lower gas taxes mean lower pump prices," said Lacey. "If you want lower gas prices there is only one way to get them, cut the taxes and start with the HST tax-on-tax," says Lacey.
Each year families head out for the May long-weekend, the CTF holds its Gas Tax Honesty Day as a reminder to working families that you pay about 30 per cent of the price at the pumps is taxes, many of them hidden. In addition, the CTF released new data detailing tax breakdowns in every province.
The CTF will hold Gas Tax Honesty Day events in Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Ottawa, Toronto and Charlottetown.
The CTF data with details and provincial breakdowns can be found HERE
Note: Kevin Lacey Atlantic Director for the CTF is available in Charlottetown to provide more information in person or by phone. He will also be at the legislature on the Richmond Street side at 130pm, weather permitting.
Is Canada Off Track?
Canada has problems. You see them at gas station. You see them at the grocery store. You see them on your taxes.
Is anyone listening to you to find out where you think Canada’s off track and what you think we could do to make things better?
You can tell us what you think by filling out the survey