Two thirds of poll participants say it's a bad time to increase taxes and almost half say the taxes aren't an effective way to cut gas consumption
Canadian consumers are becoming increasingly skeptical that carbon taxes are an effective way of reducing consumption – and most say now is not the right time to be increasing the tax burden anyway.
That’s according to a new Nanos Research survey conducted for CTV News which revealed that 45% of respondents are unconvinced of carbon taxes’ impact on fuel usage (compared to 36% in 2019) and two thirds say it’s a poor or very poor time to hike the taxes.
Their views follow the introduction of a second carbon tax by Ottawa last month which the Canadian Taxpayers Federation said adds 55 cents to the price of a litre of gas and urged the federal government to scrap the tax.
“Canadians need another carbon tax like we need a kick in the head,” Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF, said. “The Parliamentary Budget Officer is clear: Trudeau’s second carbon tax will cost families hundreds of dollars.”
Regional variations
In the Prairies, opposition to additional carbon taxes being introduced now is the highest with 79% saying it’s not the right time, while 73% in Atlantic Canada agree. However, respondents in Quebec are more split with 53% calling it poor or very poor timing.
Last year a poll by the Fraser Institute revealed that Canadians' tax burden has outpaced other single expenditures over the past six decades.
The share of people who believe carbon taxes on things like gasoline are ineffective is also highest in the Prairies (73%) and Atlantic Canada (71%) while those in BC and Ontario (both around 64%) and Quebec (60%) are less certain.
Over half (53%) of Canadians say the federal carbon pricing program is ineffective at combatting climate change.
