The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is taking issue with the second carbon tax that was imposed on July 1 by the federal government, saying now is not the time.
Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, is calling on the Trudeau government to stop their taxation of Canadians at a time when life is becoming increasingly difficult financially.
Terrazzano, while appearing on The Sam Laprade Show, pointed out that Canadians are being forced to pay two carbon taxes, a federal and a provincial one, at a time when the cost of living is already becoming unmanageable for many.
“While we’re paying two, many other countries aren’t even paying one,” said Terrazzano.
The majority of countries around the world – about 75% – don’t have a federal carbon tax and many are actually cutting gas taxes for their citizens.
Nations like the Netherlands, Germany, Australia and New Zealand are among them. The UK and South Korea cut gas taxes by 30% to offer some relief with the high cost of living.
“We all want to help the environment but having carbon taxes that make fueling up a minivan or filling up a grocery cart more expensive, this does nothing to reduce emissions in places like China, India, Russia or the United States, where emissions are really a problem.” Terrazzano said.
The CTF is also taking issue with the 14 cents per litre gas tax now imposed on all provinces and territories.Terrazzano also brought attention to the fact that Quebec was given a special deal on the tax at only 10 cents per litre.
“Atlantic Canada will be getting hammered this winter as the carbon tax is applied on home heating oil at 17 cents per litre,” said Terrazzano.
The carbon tax is purported to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions but the rippling effects are causing prices of food and other goods to skyrocket.
“When you make it more expensive for farmers out in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, to dry grain with natural gas or propane, you make food delivered to the store more expensive as well,” said Terrazzano.
In 2023, the average family in Ontario will be paying approximately $470 in carbon taxes after rebates, estimates Canada’s parliamentary budget officer.
Nova Scotians have been affected the most by the carbon tax, which jumped from 2 cents per litre to 14 cents on July 1.
“A family fueling up their Dodge Caravan, the carbon tax cost alone went up around ten dollars in one day,” said Terrazzano. “What’s frustrating is that Nova Scotia was actually leading the way when it comes to emission reductions. They reduced emissions from 2005 levels by about 36 per cent without the massive carbon tax hike the Trudeau government has imposed.”
