Taxpayers Federation holds Trudeau and O’toole accountable for carbon tax dishonesty

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation highlighted broken carbon-tax promises from both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Opposition Leader Erin O’toole at a media event to release the 23rd annual Gas Tax Honesty Day report.

“Politicians owe taxpayers the truth and the truth is that the tax bill at the pump is going up because politicians on all sides are breaking their promises,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director for CTF. “The Trudeau government told voters it had no intention to keep raising carbon taxes, but that’s exactly what it did after the election. O’toole signed a pledge to oppose a carbon tax during the Conservative leadership race and now he’s proposing his own carbon tax.”

The media availability was held as part of the CTF’S 23rd annual Gas Tax Honesty Day. Fibber, the CTF’S long-nosed, honesty-in-politics mascot, attended the event. Fibber makes an appearance when politicians break their promises to taxpayers.

Before the last federal election, former environment minister Catherine Mckenna said the government had “no intention” to raise the carbon tax beyond $50 per tonne. In August 2020, Trudeau promised not to raise taxes or costs. Despite these statements, Trudeau announced plans in December to increase the carbon tax to $170 per tonne by 2030 and impose a second carbon tax through fuel regulations.

When running for CPC leader, O’toole signed a CTF pledge promising to “repeal the Trudeau carbon tax” and “reject any future national carbon tax or cap-and-trade scheme.” In April, O’toole announced he would introduce his own carbon tax if elected prime minister.

At the media availability on May 20, the CTF released its annual Gas Tax Honesty Day report, which highlights the hidden taxes Canadians pay every time they fill-up. Taxes can account for up to 42 per cent of the pump price in Canada. The average tax cost for a 64-litre fill-up in Canada is about $29.

“Taxes already cost Canadians big time at the pumps and that tax bill will continue to grow with the Trudeau and O’toole carbon taxes,” said Terrazzano. “Politicians need to find ways to save families money rather than weighing them down with even more taxes.”

The full report can be viewed at http://www. taxpayer.com/media/ CTF%20-%20GTHD%20 2021%20Report%20 -V5%20-%20may%20 18,%202021.pdf

May 19th marked a year since Prime Minister Trudeau publicly promised new businesses will have access to federal support, yet they remain shut out of all current programs, says the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). CFIB is calling on the federal government to deliver on its promise, as tens of thousands of businesses that began formal operations after March 2020 continue to face a grueling stretch of new restrictions and lockdowns without any of the support available to other firms.

“Starting a business usually requires months, if not years, of planning, including major investments in a location, equipment and training staff,” said Dan Kelly, CFIB’S president. “After sinking their life’s savings into a business, the pandemic delayed many owners from opening their doors and when they finally did, they found themselves shut out of the wage subsidy, rent subsidy and CEBA loan program.”

On May 19, 2020, Prime Minister Trudeau promised to work on a potential solution for businesses that had not yet filed a tax return, such as newly created businesses.

The hasty replacement of Maj.-gen. Dany Fortin as head of Canada’s COVID19 vaccine campaign with Brig.-gen. Krista Brodie marks the latest instance of Canada’s military brass having to make unplanned personnel changes in its higher ranks over allegations of sexual assault or misconduct, or the way in which such allegations were handled.

Now, new public opinion data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute shows these events are having an overwhelming impact on how people in this country – including those with personal proximity to the military – view its culture and ability to handle sexual misconduct complaints.

Three-in-four (74 per cent) say there is a culture of disrespect toward women in the Canadian military – while a commanding majority of those who either served, know someone who is serving, or has served in the forces (66 per cent) agree.

An even greater number (78 per cent) perceive systemic problems with the way the Canadian military handles sexual misconduct complaints.

Awareness and perceptions of gravity among events surrounding alleged sexual misconduct are similarly high, as is doubt the Trudeau government has not been forthcoming or transparent about the situation. Six-in-10 (59 per cent) of those following events say the Prime Minister has not been open about his knowledge of events, a number that intensifies among those with a personal connection to the military (72 per cent).

The full poll can be viewed online at https://angusreid.org/ vance-military-sexual-misconduct/