Doug Ford to extend Ontario gas tax cut until end of 2024
The Ontario government will extend its gas and fuel tax rate cut until the end of the year.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The cut, which temporarily slashed the gasoline tax by 5.7 cents per litre, and the fuel tax by 5.3 cents per litre, was scheduled to expire on June 30.
On Monday, Premier Doug Ford announced it will now remain in place until Dec. 31.
The cut will be part of the province’s March 26 budget.
“With the federal government about to increase its costly carbon tax, it’s never been more important to provide relief at the pumps and put hundreds of dollars back into peoples’ pockets,” Ford said.
The government says its tax rate cut has saved Ontario households an average of $320 over the last two and a half years since it was first introduced in 2022.
The cut was proposed as a way to combat inflation as well as the federal carbon tax, which imposes a tax on gasoline in provinces that don’t have their own levy on green house gas emissions.
For gasoline, the Ontario government has said the federal carbon tax would increase costs at the pump from about 14.31 cents per litre to about 37.43 cents per litre in 2030.
As of April 1, the tax is schedule to increase to about 17.71 cents per litre in Ontario.
On Monday, Ford reiterated his call for the federal carbon tax to be cancelled or paused.
“This tax is costing hardworking people more money to drive, to work, or drop off the kids to hockey practice,” he told reporters in Mississauga.
“It's going to increase the cost of everything. It's going to hurt every single person in Ontario.”
Ford’s government is also proposing legislation that would require a referendum if future governments decide to institute a carbon tax in Ontario.
If passed, voters would get a “direct say” over any new provincial carbon tax, cap-and-trade system or other carbon pricing program.
Future governments can repeal this legislation if they have enough support.
The changes appear to be part of a direct attack against Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, who was named in Ford’s announcement as a supporter of carbon tax, despite the fact that she has publicly said she will not impose this strategy if elected leader.
“Friends, don't be fooled. Bonnie Crombie continues to support carbon taxes in this tax increase. The Queen of the carbon tax won't speak out against next week's tax hike.”
The provincial liberals spent early last week distancing themselves from their federal counterparts, pledging not to institute a carbon tax themselves while sidestepping questions about whether the national policy has their support.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.
opinion RFK Jr.'s presidential candidacy and its potential threat to Biden and Trump
Although it's still unclear how much damage Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s candidacy can do to either Joe Biden or Donald Trump this election, Washington political columnist Eric Ham says what is clear is both sides recognize the potential threat.
Yemen's Houthi rebels claim downing U.S. Reaper drone, release footage showing wreckage of aircraft
Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed shooting down another of the U.S. military's MQ-9 Reaper drones, airing footage of parts that corresponded to known pieces of the unmanned aircraft.
Haida elder suing Catholic Church and priest, hopes for 'healing and reconciliation'
The lawyer for a residential school survivor leading a proposed class-action defamation lawsuit against the Catholic Church over residential schools says the court action is a last resort.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.