The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on Premier Scott Moe to cut the provincial gas tax and the federal government to keep its fuel tax cut after releasing its 28th annual Gas Tax Honesty Report, shining a light on all the hidden taxes that make fueling up more expensive.
“Moe can give Saskatchewanians a break today by cutting the gas tax,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “The government shouldn’t be making painfully high gas prices worse by charging taxes on top.
“The Saskatchewan government charges drivers a higher gas tax than it’s provincial neighbours.”
The price of gasoline in Saskatchewan is about $1.65 per litre. That’s an increase of about 43 cents per litre since March 1.
Drivers in Saskatchewan are paying about 30 cents in federal and provincial taxes per litre of gasoline when they fill up, according to the CTF’s Gas Tax Honesty Report.
Filling up a family minivan in Saskatchewan costs about $21 in taxes.
Taxes make up about 18 per cent of the pump price in the province.
The federal government charges a hidden carbon tax through fuel regulations that costs seven cents per litre. GST costs Saskatchewanians about 7.7 cents per litre.
The provincial government also charges a provincial gas tax of 15 cents per litre. A Saskatchewan family pays about $11 in the provincial gas tax every time they fill up a minivan and about $15 when they fill up a pick-up truck.
Prime Minister Mark Carney temporarily cut the 10 cents per litre federal gas tax in April. Polling shows that 63 per cent of Canadians oppose the federal government hiking fuel taxes in September.
“Saskatchewan drivers are paying record prices at the pump and Moe can give them relief today by cutting the gas tax,” Haubrich said. “Carney can keep providing relief by scrapping his plans to jack the federal fuel tax back up.”