Canadian Taxpayers Federation calls for provincial and federal gas tax cuts

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on both the Saskatchewan provincial government and the federal government to eliminate or extend fuel tax relief to combat rising costs. During a media event in Regina, CTF Prairie Director Gage Haubrich highlighted that drivers currently face multiple layers of taxation at the pump, including a 15-cent provincial gas tax, a 7.7-cent Goods and Services Tax (GST), and a 7-cent carbon tax embedded in fuel regulations.

Haubrich urged Premier Scott Moe to abolish the provincial gas tax and requested that the federal government extend the current 10-cent per litre fuel tax holiday beyond its scheduled end date. According to the CTF, a full tank for a pickup truck can currently cost approximately $30 in taxes alone. The federation cited polling indicating that 63 per cent of Canadians support keeping the federal tax cut in place, with the strongest opposition to reinstating the tax found in the prairie provinces.

The federal tax break, described by Prime Minister Mark Carney as a “responsible, temporary measure,” was implemented to ease inflation pressure. While some political figures have called for the suspension to be made permanent or extended through 2026, the federal finance department has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the upcoming September reinstatement.