The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Premier Tony Wakeham to demand Prime Minister Mark Carney cancel next month’s federal gas tax hike, after a new Leger poll shows 64 per cent of Atlantic Canadians oppose it.

“Wakeham proved that cutting gas taxes helps families in Newfoundland and Labrador, so he needs to tell Carney to take the hint and stop his gas tax hike,” said Devin Drover, CTF Atlantic Director and General Counsel. “Almost two-thirds of Atlantic Canadians oppose Carney’s plan to crank up gas taxes next month and Wakeham needs to bring their voice to Ottawa.”

The federal government suspended its fuel tax in April. The government plans to bring the tax back on Sept. 8, at 10 cents per litre of gasoline and four cents per litre of diesel.

That hike means taxpayers will pay about $7 more in taxes to fill up a minivan and $11 more to fill up a pickup truck, according to the CTF’s 28th annual Gas Tax Honesty Report.

Even with the federal tax suspended, the report shows drivers in Newfoundland and Labrador pay 39 cents per litre in total taxes every time they fuel up.

That’s about $25 in taxes on a typical 64-litre fill-up.

The taxes drivers in Newfoundland and Labrador pay on a litre of gasoline are:

• Provincial gas tax: 7.5 cents
• Federal fuel regulations (hidden carbon tax): seven cents
• Federal and provincial sales taxes: fifteen per cent, charged on top of the other taxes

Taxes make up 21 per cent of the pump price in the province. When the federal fuel tax comes back Sept. 8, drivers will also pay sales tax on that tax.

The Newfoundland and Labrador government cut its provincial gas tax by 8.05 cents per litre in 2022 and the Wakeham government made that cut permanent in March. That saves drivers about $5 every time they fill up.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford wrote to Carney last week, urging him to extend the federal gas tax cut until at least Jan. 1 or make it permanent.

“Wakeham should join Ford and push Carney to make the federal gas tax cut permanent.” Drover said. “Wakeham made his gas tax cut permanent and Carney needs to do the same thing.”