Premier Doug Ford says ‘carbon tax is killing people’

Twitter / Doug Ford

Rebel News LIVE!

Rebel News Live is coming to Toronto on May 11. Get tickets now to the most provocative, most interesting, and most freedom-oriented conference in Canada!

Buy tickets

E-transfer (Canada):
[email protected] - password RebelNews if required

Cheques made out to Rebel News:
Rebel News Network Ltd.
PO Box 61056 Eglinton/Dufferin RO
Toronto, ON M6E 5B2

Crypto

Ontario Premier Doug Ford had a moment of clarity during a press conference Monday, admitting the carbon tax has burdened residents at a time when their finances are plenty stretched thin.

“The carbon tax is killing people,” said Ford, adding he would not support the federal government increasing the carbon tax yet again on consumers from $50 to $65 per tonne of carbon emissions.

On April 1, the carbon tax will increase from 11 to 14 cents per litre of gas and 12 cents per cubic metre of natural gas to all provinces without a provincial cap and trade.

Ford called the tax grab “unacceptable,” citing that rising energy costs have driven inflation. Last March, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem confirmed the federal carbon tax bolstered inflation by 0.4%.

On Monday, Ford urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to pause the carbon tax at a minimum to provide immediate tax relief.

"This carbon tax is killing people." Premier Ford slams the Trudeau Liberals for increasing the carbon tax and contributing to unrelenting inflation.

Sign the petition: https://t.co/jvF8CGrvC6 pic.twitter.com/K9dCU10qVa

— Rebel News Canada (@RebelNews_CA) March 28, 2023

In 2019, Ottawa introduced a price on carbon pollution, starting at $20 per tonne and increasing $10 in successive years to $50 per tonne in 2022. They intend to expand the tax with subsequent increases of $15 until 2030 when it reaches $170 per tonne.

According to the 24th Annual Gas Tax Honesty Report, the typical gas price in Ontario was $1.75 per litre in May 2022. Of that amount, fuel taxes amounted to $0.56 per litre.

In Ontario, the price paid at the pump comprises the cost of crude oil, wholesale margins, retail margins, federal excise tax, the federal carbon tax, Ontario gasoline/fuel tax and HST.

Per the tax report, the fuel tax breakdown at $50 per tonne is:

• Provincial excise tax: 14.7 cents per litre
• Carbon tax: 11.1 cents per litre
• Provincial sales tax: 12.4 cents per litre
• Federal excise tax: 10.0 cents per litre
• Federal sales tax: 7.8 cents per litre

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith wants answers after learning that Alberta could be paying 55% more carbon tax than Quebec next year.

MORE: https://t.co/cGG84R07aZ pic.twitter.com/ya9mavWZON

— Rebel News Canada (@RebelNews_CA) December 11, 2022

According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) Yves Giroux, the net cost for an average household in Ontario this year will be $478, rising annually to $1,820 in 2030 when the carbon tax hits $170 per tonne.

“When both fiscal and economic impacts of the federal fuel charge are considered, we estimate that most households will see a net loss, paying more in fuel charges and GST as well as receiving lower incomes, compared to the climate action incentive payments they receive and lower personal income taxes they pay,” he said on Friday.

Since the carbon tax is progressive, the top 60% of households pay more in carbon taxes than they receive in rebates, while the bottom 40% receive more in rebates than they pay — switching to only the bottom 20% in 2024/25.

“People cannot afford it,” said Ford. “We’re going to make sure it is affordable for people to live in Ontario.”

Trudeau is bragging about the Liberals' carbon taxes putting money back in Canadians' pockets, and making the country more attractive for businesses to invest.

Is Trudeau's reality happening in your life?https://t.co/PHR7jF0lJM pic.twitter.com/rXc4NdjLSk

— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) March 14, 2023

On November 13, he extended its gas and fuel rate cap of 9 cents per litre. From last July 1 to this December 31, the measure will provide the typical household with an average of $195 in savings.

On March 23, the provincial Tories unveiled Budget 2023, which forecast roughly $200 billion in revenue — $20.6 billion more than projected last budget — lending itself to an extended cap on the cost of gas and fuel throughout 2023.

This extension follows legislation passed this spring that cut the gas tax by 5.7 cents per litre and the fuel tax by 5.3 cents per litre for six months, from July 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023.

“At a time when inflation has reached the highest levels in over four decades, we know families are feeling the pressure from rising prices on everything from gas to groceries,” said Ford. “To continue providing real relief, our government proposes extending the gas tax cut for another year to put more money back in peoples’ pockets where it belongs.”

According to the PBO, the lowest quintile in Ontario will receive $241 this year, rising to $408 in 2030. However, the top 20% will owe $1,888 this year, rising to $4,449 in 2030.