OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is criticizing the federal government for failing to provide serious, broad-based tax relief to help make life more affordable for Canadians.

“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau isn’t serious about making life more affordable for Canadians,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “The price of groceries has gone up by 10 per cent and the government is only willing to tinker around the edges with rebates. If Trudeau was serious about inflation, then he would stop wasting so much money and provide meaningful tax relief.”

The federal government raised payroll, alcohol and carbon taxes three times during the pandemic. Canadians making more than $40,000 have seen their federal income tax bills going up this year due to the higher payroll taxes.

“The average Canadian family now spends more of its income on taxes (36.4 per cent) than it does on basic necessities such as food, shelter and clothing combined (35.4 per cent),” according to the Fraser Institute.

The federal government could immediately lower gas taxes between 18 and 30 cents per litre, depending on the province. The United Kingdom, South Korea, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Ireland, Israel, India, Peru, Poland, 25 Indian states and union territories, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, New Jersey and Florida have all announced gas tax relief.

“Rebates are a nice gesture, but Trudeau should stop overcharging Canadians in the first place by cutting taxes in a serious way,” said Terrazzano. “Letting Canadians keep more of our own money would make everything more affordable.”