REGINA – The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is pointing to results of a newly released Leger poll as showing wide support to keep the fuel tax removed beyond Sept. 8.
“The poll is overwhelming," said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director, about the results on Wednesday in speaking to SaskToday.
Leger had conducted an online survey of 1,516 Canadians between July 24 to 27 had asked Canadians if they support or oppose the government increasing fuel taxes in September. Results came back with 43 per cent strongly opposing the tax increase, while 20 per cent somewhat opposing the tax increase.
Together, that amounted to a net 63 per cent of respondents in support of no increase.
Of those favouring the fuel tax going back up, 17 per cent somewhat support it while eight per cent strongly support it. 11 per cent responded they did not know.
Among decided respondents a net total of 71 per cent opposed the fuel tax going up. Terrazzano believed a clear message was being sent by those polled.
“It shows Canadians oppose the government's plan to increase gas taxes in September,” Terrazzano said.
“And look at the poll numbers. In every demographic, Canadians oppose Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to crank up the gas tax in September. And if you break down the polling even more, you'll see that respondents in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are the most likely to oppose the gas tax hike.”
According to the numbers, 62 per cent opposed the fuel tax going back up in those two provinces, well above most other regions of the country, which saw a percentage range of 40 to 49 per cent opposition. Quebec came in with the least opposition at 33 per cent.
“So Carney needs to look at these poll numbers,” Terrazzano said. “He needs to understand that Canadians can't afford to pay more for the pumps, that Canadians can't afford to pay more for everything truck-to-store shelves, and he needs to commit right now that his government in Ottawa will not be hiking gas taxes in September.”
The fuel tax on gas and diesel is currently temporarily suspended until Sept. 8 to address affordability concerns due to the war in Iran and challenges in the Strait of Hormuz. The plan right now is for the fuel tax to be restored to 10 cents per litre of gas and four cents per litre of diesel as of that date.
Terrazzano said the CTF is calling on Carney to “permanently cut the gas tax and to do so by cutting wasteful spending so that the debt doesn't continue to pollute.”
He said cutting taxes is “the fastest, it's the simplest, and it's the easiest way for the government to help make life more affordable.” He believes it helps people in a couple ways.
“So number one, it saves you money every time you fuel up at the gas station.
But number two, it also, removing the gas tax also makes life more affordable for everyone else, even when they're not driving. Because, like, think about it this way, big rig truck drivers, when they're fueling up their tanks, they gotta use diesel. Well, tax on diesel makes it more expensive for truckers, and that makes it more expensive for Canadians buying stuff that is trucked to the stores.”
As for how to make up the loss of revenue by keeping the fuel tax off, Terrazzano points to cutting spending as the way to address it.
Terrazzano said the federal government “has been wasting money like crazy for a very long time.”
He noted the parliamentary budget office in its latest report on excise taxes showed that the government takes in around $6 billion a year in fuel taxes. Terrazzano also noted the government is on track this year to spend $6 billion over budget.
“So just stick to your spending plans in your own budget, in your latest budget 2025, and there you go. You got the money. So just cut wasteful spending.”
Terrazzano also points to the cost of the bureaucracy going up 80 per cent in 10 years. Hr also pointed to the federal government "spending about $11 billion on corporate welfare every year."
"So there's many places that the government can find savings so that it can cut taxes permanently.”
This poll is only on the federal fuel tax, but there has been considerable discussion in Saskatchewan on whether the province ought to suspend its own gas tax as well.
Terrazzano said the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is “pushing all governments to do their own part and provide relief as well,” and voiced support for reductions to provincial gas taxes as well. He pointed to some provinces that have cut their fuel taxes.
“We saw the Ontario government announce temporary gas tax relief and then make that tax relief permanent. Same thing happened in Newfoundland and Labrador. We saw the Manitoba government suspend gas taxes for a year. So we know that politicians in provincial governments can cut gas taxes as well.”
Terrazzano adds that in addition to fuel taxes, the federal government also calculates its sales tax on top of those per-litre taxes.
“So in addition to providing permanent relief at the pumps, the federal government should also end the sales tax on tax,” Terrazzano said.
