If you didn't gas up yesterday, you'll pay another nickel per litre of regular gas today as the new federal carbon tax kicks in.
See: Save yourself some cash. Fill up before Monday!
Gas prices that hovered around 1.18 yesterday jumped to around 1.23 this morning.
Lowest price in the city this afternoon is 1.21.9 at Mr Gas on Highway 11 north and most expensive, according to GasBuddy is the Esso on Algonquin at 1.23.9.
Just outside the city limits, gas is 1.12.7 at Eagle's Nest on Highway 17 west.
“Whether driving to work or unwinding at home with a cold beer, you’ll be paying more starting today,” said Canadian Taxpayers Federation Federal Director Aaron Wudrick. “It may be the cruelest April Fools’ prank of all because squeezing family budgets is no joke!”
The new federal carbon tax of $20 per tonne of CO2 emissions will increase the cost of gasoline by 4.4 cents per litre and the cost of diesel by 6.4 cents per litre. By 2022, the federal government will charge 11 cents per litre on gasoline and 16 cents per litre for diesel.
The federal escalator tax on beer, wine, and spirits means that excise taxes on those products rise automatically each year, with no need for annual Parliamentary approval. As a result, Canadians will pay an additional $193 million in alcohol taxes over the next three years.
“The escalator tax on alcohol sets a terrible precedent for tax-weary Canadians,” said Wudrick. “Tax hikes should never be automatic. If politicians want to try to hike them, they should be transparent about it, and face the music in Parliament.”
It will also cost more to heat your home as the carbon tax adds another $10 a month for homeowners using natural gas.
Critics say both hit northern Ontario harder as distances are longer and public transit is less available. Also, the climate means northern Ontarians pay more for heat.
Meanwhile, Premier Doug Ford announced the end to the Drive Clean program for southern Ontario.
"We ended the Drive Clean program for passenger vehicles to save Ontario drivers time and money. Unfortunately, the federal carbon tax is going to make the cost of filling up your tank more expensive. I promise the people of Ontario that our government will continue to fight this tax with every tool at our disposal."
Ford joined Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Jeff Yurek, Minister of Transportation, and Monte McNaughton, Minister of Infrastructure, to announce the end of the Drive Clean program and explain how the federal government's carbon tax will hurt Ontario drivers.
Starting today, southern Ontario drivers no longer need to get Drive Clean emissions tests for their light-duty passenger vehicles. Northern Ontario was exempt.
"The carbon tax will cost the average Ontario driver $57 at the pumps in 2019, at 4.4 cents per litre. By 2022, drivers could be paying up to $180 more a year because of this job-killing tax," said Phillips.
