Take 5 pennies off the gas pump, taxpayers federation urges Ottawa
16.05.2008 01:01
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- Source: cbc.ca
 The national pump price average registered $1.28 per litre on Wednesday.(CBC)The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, as part of its annual Gas Tax Honesty Day, will be paying the tax on drivers' fuel at some filling stations across the country Wednesday. The advocacy group, which focuses on lowering taxes and making government accountable, says the federal government is slated to collect $5 billion in direct gas and diesel taxes. CTF director John Williamson is calling on the government to lower the federal tax on gas by five cents a litre. "Over the past 12 months — the period of May 2007 to April 2008 — the average national price of a litre of gasoline paid by Canadian motorists was approximately $1.16," the group said in a release. "This represents a 17-cent increase over last year’s average price. Today, gasoline taxes account for an average 28 per cent of the pump price." But critics note that a modest tax reduction won't help consumers much in the long run. "What that would mean of course is that the gas prices that are now $1.25 a litre would come down to $1.20 — it's really not going to change anyone's life," said CBC News business commentator Michael Hlinka. CTF Manitoba spokesman Colin Craig says Ottawa should direct all of the revenues it collects from gas taxes into road infrastructure. "Gas taxes are high right now," he said. "The federal government has not invested that money back into roads substantially — it's only 37 per cent right now. So what we're saying is, if they're not going to use it for roads, then they should give that money back to motorists." On Wednesday, the national pump price average registered $1.28 per litre, according to the gas monitoring website Gasbuddy.com. In the United States, the average price of a U.S. gallon climbed to $3.77. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksGas, oil prices hit record highsIN DEPTH: What goes into the price we pay at the pump?INTERACTIVE: Gas prices in CanadaVideo CBC-TV's Danny Globerman reports (Runs: 2:35)Play: Real Media »Play: QuickTime »External LinksCanadian Taxpayers FederationGasbuddy.com(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window) Consumer HeadlinesRisk of major housing price correction 'very low': Scotiabank00Unmistakeable signs of cooling are appearing in the Canadian real estate market, but the chance of a big drop in prices is "very low," according to an analysis from Scotia Capital.Canadians' drug spending on the rise, CIHI says00Spending on prescription and non-prescription drugs in Canada reached $26.9 billion last year, an increase of 7.2 per cent over 2006, according to data released Thursday. Gas sells out in advance of P.E.I. price increase00Islanders responded to an announced increase in the price of gas by pumping some service stations dry on Wednesday evening.Yukon rolls out smoking ban campaign as law becomes official00The Yukon became the last Canadian jurisdiction to pass a smoking ban Thursday, but the territorial government is still working out how it will enforce its new law.Passengers flying to North with pets face restrictions00Air Canada was forced this month to resume carrying pets on its flights, but as at least one Yellowknife passenger has found, restrictions can make it difficult for some to take advantage of the service. Consumer Life FeaturesENERGYEthanol FAQThe merits of alternative fuel still hotly debatedTECHNOLOGYFast foodNew techniques for making fast food fasterTRAVELDiscount dealsLuxury packages for thrifty world travelersBLOGFood BytesHow to make your calories countBLOGComm-OdditiesShipping containers could become condos in DetroitPeople who read this also read …
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