OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is applauding the Ontario government’s move to freeze beer taxes and calling on the federal government to do the same. 

“It’s good to see the Ford government providing relief and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should do the same and scrap his upcoming alcohol tax hike,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director. “Canadians are struggling with affordability so at the very least Trudeau shouldn’t be making life more expensive with tax hikes.”

Today, the Ontario government announced it’s freezing its beer taxes and LCBO mark-up rates that were scheduled to increase this March. Ontario’s beer tax freeze will be in place until March 1, 2026.

Since Nov. 1, 2018, the Ontario government has cancelled scheduled beer basic tax and LCBO mark-up increases.

The federal government is scheduled to increase its excise tax by 4.7 per cent on April 1. First passed in the 2017 federal budget, its alcohol escalator tax automatically increases federal excise taxes on beer, wine and spirits every year by the rate of inflation, without a vote in Parliament.

“Premier Doug Ford is doing the right thing by freezing beer taxes,” said Jay Goldberg, CTF Ontario Director. “Ontarians are struggling with the high cost of living and Ford is showing leadership by freezing taxes.”