CTF urging taxpayers to fuel up before federal carbon tax hits Alberta

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2020-01-02

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is urging drivers to fuel up their cars before the federal carbon tax hits Alberta on Jan. 1, 2020.

“Albertans will be feeling the federal carbon tax hangover tomorrow,” said Franco Terrazzano, Alberta Director for the CTF. “Before we fill our glasses with New Year’s champagne, we need to take advantage of a carbon tax-free Alberta and fill up our tanks.”

The federal government’s carbon tax will hit Albertans tomorrow, on Jan. 1, 2020. The federal carbon tax will cost over 4 cents per litre of gasoline, increasing to over 11 cents per litre in 2022. The federal carbon tax could add an extra $2.60 to the price of filling up a sedan in January, and an extra $6.50 in 2022. The carbon tax could add an extra $3.53 to fill up a minivan in January, and an extra $8.82 in 2022.

The Department of Environment acknowledged that a carbon tax hike beyond 2022 was planned, according to a confidential 2017 briefing note obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter through Access to Information requests.

“The overall price will be reviewed in 2022 to ensure that it is effective and to confirm future price increases,” reads the briefing material.

Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson has acknowledged that the government may increase the carbon tax in the future.

The federal government believes a $300 per tonne carbon tax is needed by 2050 to reach its emissions targets, according to a briefing document obtained by the CTF. If the carbon tax were set at that rate, it would increase the cost of gasoline by over 66 cents per litre. A $300 per tonne carbon tax could cost an extra $38.98 to fill up a sedan and an extra $52.91 to fill up a minivan.

“Ottawa’s carbon tax will make it harder to fill up our vehicles, heat our homes during the winter and punish us for trying to grow our economy,” said Terrazzano. “The feds should listen to the overwhelming majority of Albertans and stop trying to impose its carbon tax on our province.”

source: Canadian Taxpayers Federation

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