REGINA — The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the federal and provincial governments to cut gas taxes to save drivers money.
“Saskatchewanians are now paying two carbon taxes they can’t afford,” Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director, said. “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to stop piling more costs on families and scrap both of his carbon taxes that are making life more expensive.”
In a release issued Thursday, the CTF says its Gas Tax Honesty Report shows that taxes make up 30 per cent of the pump price in Saskatchewan. Provincial and federal taxes cost 47 cents per litre of gasoline.
The federal carbon tax currently costs 14 cents per litre of gasoline. The federal government imposed a second carbon tax through fuel regulations that took effect on July 1. By 2030, when the fuel regulations are fully implemented, the two carbon taxes will increase the price of gasoline by about 55 cents per litre and cost the average Saskatchewan family more than $2,800 annually.
The Saskatchewan government charges a gas tax of 15 cents per litre.
The provincial governments of Alberta, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador all cut gas taxes to save drivers money.
“Premier Scott Moe rightly calls out the cost of the federal carbon tax but refuses to cut his provincial gas tax like many other provinces have done,” Haubrich said. “Moe should step up and provide relief by cutting his gas taxes.”
