SIMMONS EXCLUSIVE: Blue Jays great Roberto Alomar breaks silence on lifetime baseball ban

Fox News host Greg Gutfeld mocks 'equity card' arguments at NDP convention

Reality check on Keith Pelley's perplexing news conference

Share this Story : Toronto Sun Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

LILLEY: PM Carney should heed Poilievre's call for gas tax cuts

Conservative leader calls for temprorary suspension of some gas taxes and elimination of another to help drivers

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Cut taxes and cut waste to bring down the cost of gas. That’s the message from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and it’s really too bad his proposal will fall on Mark Carney’s deaf ears.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.

Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.

Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.

Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.

Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.

Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.

Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.

Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.

Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.

Enjoy additional articles per month.

Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments

Enjoy additional articles per month

Get email updates from your favourite authors

Don't have an account? Create Account

As gas prices reach for the stars, this is one of Poilievre’s policies that the prime minister should be stealing.

LILLEY: PM Carney should heed Poilievre's call for gas tax cuts Back to video

In a plan unveiled Thursday morning, Poilievre called for the federal government to suspend the excise tax and the GST on gasoline and diesel until the end of the year. That move, he says, would save drivers about 18 cents a litre on every fill up.

He’s also calling for the cancellation of the Clean Fuel Standard, a carbon tax by another name. That would cut 8 cents a litre at the pump for a total savings of 25 cents per litre.

Other countries already cutting the price

Poilievre is pointing to countries such as Spain, Ireland and Australia that have already cut their fuel taxes to help citizens cope amid higher prices due to the war in Iran.

Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.

There was an error, please provide a valid email address.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

“While the Iran war explains the sudden rise in world oil prices, it does not explain why Canadians pay so much more than Americans. Liberal taxes force Canadians to pay 28 cents-a-litre or 20% more than in the United States,” Poilievre said. “High Liberal fuel taxes drive up the cost of groceries, which are already rising the fastest in the G7.”

At the beginning of the year, the average price for a litre of gas across Canada was $1.30. Today, that same litre of gas will cost you $1.78, a 48-cent-per-litre increase.

Diesel, which powers most of the trucks moving goods back and forth across the country, started the year at $1.66 per litre and is now at $2.31.

The national average for gas in the United States right now in Canadian dollars works out to $1.47 per litre while the average diesel price is $2.

The difference is mostly due to higher taxes in Canada.

Federal government profiting from higher prices

On the GST alone, the federal government is bringing in several million dollars per day in windfall revenue they didn’t budget for thanks to the higher prices.

“Canadians deserve affordable fuel and food,” Poilievre said. “Seniors should be able to enjoy a worry-free drive to see grandkids, parents should not stress about filling the minivan for hockey practice, and workers should be able to fill their trucks stress-free. That is why Conservatives call for zero tax on gas the rest of the year.”

Alberta has a program to reduce fuel taxes when the price spikes.

The Alberta program cuts the gas tax on a quarterly basis starting when the price of a barrel of oil goes above $80 and is eliminated when the price is above $90. Despite oil currently sitting at $110 a barrel, the tax relief didn’t kick in April 1 because it came too late according to the rules. The next price adjustment will be on July 1.

Poilievre said the Carney government could pay for these tax cuts by eliminating wasteful spending. He pointed to the failed gun “buyback” program, the high cost of outside consultants hired by the federal government and the planned $90-billion high speed rail system that has been proposed but is meeting some stiff opposition along the route.

blilley@postmedia.com

Share this Story : Toronto Sun Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

SIMMONS EXCLUSIVE: Blue Jays great Roberto Alomar breaks silence on lifetime baseball ban Toronto Blue Jays

SIMMONS EXCLUSIVE: Blue Jays great Roberto Alomar breaks silence on lifetime baseball ban

SUNshine Girl Diana Sunshine Girls

Fox News host Greg Gutfeld mocks 'equity card' arguments at NDP convention World

Fox News host Greg Gutfeld mocks 'equity card' arguments at NDP convention

SUNshine Girl Nicole Sunshine Girls

Reality check on Keith Pelley's perplexing news conference Toronto Maple Leafs

Reality check on Keith Pelley's perplexing news conference

© Toronto Sun