Gaetan asks Gould to put a stop to taxing the taxes we pay

By Joe Gaetan 

May 7th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

Here’s what Karina Gould had to say in the House of Commons on The Economy on May 4th, at 3:05 p.m.

“Mr. Speaker, we understand that Canadians are struggling right now and that there is a high cost of living, but, unlike the Conservatives, we are actually acting. We have put measures in place, like the Canada child benefit, like the climate action incentive, like increasing the guaranteed income supplement, like the new grocery rebate. We are actually acting to help Canadian families at this time of struggle.”

In June 2019, Trudeau’s then environment minister, Catherine McKenna dismissed a report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer saying that to meet Canada’s Paris Accord targets the price on carbon would need to rise to $102 a tonne. McKenna said at the time that the government has, “no plan to increase the price post 2022. For Conservatives to suggest otherwise is simply false and misleading.”

Under the Government’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, the federal fuel charge is set to rise from $65 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2023-24 to $170 per tonne in 2030-31.

In 2023-24, the federal fuel charge will be expanded to include Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

In 2021 the cost of Natural Gas was .13 cent per cubic meter. The combined federal carbon tax and HST in 2021 added an additional .09 cents to a cubic meter natural gas. Fast forward to 2023 and the combined federal carbon tax and HST is now .21 cents a cubic meter of natural gas. An increase of 133% in four years. To add insult to injury the federal government applies the HST on top the carbon tax meaning we are being taxed on a tax.

Karina Gould: MP Burlington, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

If nothing else and if Minister Gould and her government would like to help struggling Canadians, they will STOP adding HST to the carbon tax. This move alone would go a long way to help people who are struggling.

The federal government recently announced it was willing to give Volkswagen approximately $13 billion to build a battery factory in the area as part of the greening of the economy.

But when it came to putting something in the last budget that would help ordinary people make the green transition, the cupboard was bare.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer shows the carbon tax cost the average family about $402 in 2022 and $847 in 2023 even after the rebates. Not sure how that helps struggling Canadians.

If Canada did nothing or if we did everything, on a global basis we would have next to no effect on global greenhouse gas emissions. I think most Canadians buy into our social responsibility where GHG emissions are concerned, and we also need to be stewards of our natural resources meaning we shouldn’t waste them. Imposing unnecessary and needless taxes during these inflationary times is unnecessary.

Had this government stuck to their initial promise on the carbon tax, fewer Canadian would be struggling.

Joe Gaetan is a Burlington resident who delegates on occasion and is a strong believer in holding the elected accountable and expects them to be transparent while serving the public.