This is how much a 'gas tax holiday' could save Ottawa motorists
With the price at the pump soaring, we could all use some relief while filling up the gas tank in Ottawa.
In the United States, President Joe Biden is considering a so-called "gas tax holiday"; but, how much would it save those filling up in Ottawa if Canada introduced the same plan?
Greg Beach and his wife have purchased a new camping trailer.
"We’re going to go on the road, spend some time and enjoy it," Beach told CTV News Ottawa at Ottawa Camping Trailers on Thursday.
Towing the trailer will cost them, with Beach believing a weekend or a week away will cost about $300 to $400, depending on how far you travel.
"Usually your gas mileage cuts in half when you hook on to the camper."
Vacation-bound, they could use a break from high gas prices too.
"Likely with our trips that we have booked at this point, it might cost us $500 or $600 more than it would’ve last summer."
Countries around the world are reducing what it costs motorists to fill up, by implementing a so-called "gas tax holiday."
"Oh, that would be amazing," says Blaine McAvoy, General Manager of Ottawa Camping Trailers on Bank Street. "We’d have so many more people travelling, so many more people coming in checking out the trailers; going for freedom - freedom basically, is what they’re going to get if the gas prices go down."
While the Ontario government plans to cut the provincial portion of the gas tax on July 1, many are hoping the federal government does the same.
"Oh, I think we need some relief,” says Dan McTeague, Canadians for Affordable Energy President. "Like it or not, the price of gasoline, the price of diesel - the higher cost of energy has now cascaded throughout the economy."
McTeague says a cut in the Federal Excise Tax would be $2.2 billion less in revenue.
"I think Canadians want the government to do this, but the federal government itself is not interested. It comes up with unfounded excuses like it won’t be passed on to consumers, which is total non-sense.”
HOW MUCH WOULD A GAS TAX HOLIDAY SAVE YOU?
McTeague broke down the numbers:
July 1: If the Ontario government cuts the province’s excise tax on fuel: 5.7 cents/L (6.4 cents with HST added)
Federal Excise tax:10 cents/L (11.3 cents with HST added).
With an average price of 199.9 cents a litre in Ottawa on Thursday, gas would drop to 182.2 cents a litre.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.