Most Canadians oppose Ottawa’s planned September gas tax hike

Almost two-thirds of Canadians disapprove of a federal plan to raise taxes on gasoline next month, according to a Leger poll shared by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF).

The planned hike in taxes comes from an initiative by the federal government in April to temporarily suspend the federal fuel excise tax on gasoline, diesel fuel and aviation fuels by setting their rates to 0 cents per litre. It took effect April 20 with a planned end date of Labour Day, Sept. 7, 2026.

“This measure is intended to address fuel price pressures caused by global oil disruptions related to the Middle East conflict,” the federal government said in a backgrounder at the time, adding: “It is estimated this will provide over $2.4 billion in total tax relief that will ease the pressure of high fuel prices on Canadians in 2026.”

However, the reintroduction of the tax will add 10 cents per litre of gas and four cents per litre of diesel as of Sept. 8.

The Leger poll asked Canadians if they support or oppose the government increasing fuel taxes in September. Results of the poll show that 43 per cent strongly oppose the tax increase, while another 20 per cent somewhat oppose it, for a total of 63 per cent.

On the other side, 17 per cent somewhat support the tax increase and eight per cent strongly support it, for a total of 25 per cent. A further 11 per cent said they didn’t know.

Leaving aside the “didn’t know” group, of those with a definite opinion, 71 per cent were against and just 29 per cent in favour of the increase.

Breaking down the numbers by gender, age and province found that opposition to the tax hike was highest among women, people over 55 and prairie dwellers. However, opposition remained broad regardless.

“The poll shows Canadians in every demographic oppose Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to crank federal gas taxes back up next month,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF’s federal director. “Carney needs to listen to Canadians and confirm that he will not be hiking gas taxes in September.”

The CTF separately published its Gas Tax Honesty Report last month, pointing out the provincial components of gas taxes, and comparing prices and levies across the country.

It found that parts of British Columbia have the most consistently high gas prices, averaging $1.90 per litre in Vancouver and a few cents cheaper in Victoria. (The rest of the province averaged a relatively cheap $1.68 per litre.) Alberta had the lowest provincial average, just $1.55 per litre.

However, Montreal was found have the highest gas taxes in the country at 61 cents per litre, or 35 per cent of the price of gasoline. Drivers in Montreal pay a transit tax when fuelling up in the city, in addition to provincial and federal levies. The rest of Quebec had gas taxes amounting to 33 per cent of the total price.

Similarly, drivers in Vancouver and Victoria also pay transit taxes at the pumps, and had total taxes of 28 and 25 per cent, respectively. Manitobans pay just 17 per cent tax on their gas, with Alberta and Saskatchewan at 18 per cent.

Under the heading “Gas Changes Since Last Year,” the report noted that the planned September tax increase would add about $7 to the cost of filling than tank of a minivan, and $11 on the price of a fillup for a pickup truck.

It also pointed out that the Newfoundland and Labrador government, which cut its provincial gas tax by 8.05 cents per litre in June 2022, made that decrease permanent in March. This means drivers will save $5.15 on every 64-litre fill up there.

The Leger poll reached out to 1,516 adult Canadians between July 24 and July 27, and has a margin of error no greater than plus or minus 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.