Modest, affordable, practical plan for lower taxes vs. grandiose, costly, risky plan for higher tax on everything
Winnipeg
– Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that a re-elected Conservative Government will cut the federal excise tax on diesel fuel in half, from four cents per litre to two cents per litre, to reduce transportation costs, keep the price of consumer goods down and strengthen the national economy during a time of global uncertainty.
“At a time when Canadians are concerned about affordability, and energy prices are rising, we should be doing what we can to lower prices,” Prime Minister Harper said. “This tax reduction will benefit consumers who buy virtually anything that moves by truck, train, ship or plane.”
Diesel fuel prices have risen sharply in recent years as a result of growing global demand. The federal excise tax, which is charged on top of the base retail price, costs shippers over $1 billion a year. To cover rising costs, shipping companies have been forced to impose fuel surcharges on their customers, including manufacturers, food retailers and wholesalers, primary resource producers and public transit systems. Those costs, in turn, are usually passed on to Canadian consumers.
The Prime Minister highlighted that today’s announcement underscores the choice Canadians face in this election. “This is a choice between two very different plans,” he said. “We want to reduce the tax on diesel a bit. Others plan to increase the tax on diesel significantly. In fact, they plan to increase the price of everything.”
Prime Minister Harper emphasized that the difference between the two economic plans is stark: lower taxes vs. higher taxes, affordable vs. wildly expensive, modest vs. grandiose, practical vs. theoretical, straightforward vs. uncertain, stability vs. major risk.
“On a policy level, the choice is a modest, affordable reduction in the tax on diesel, or a massive carbon tax that will increase the cost of everything,” Prime Minister Harper said. “On a broader level, the choice is between two opposite plans for the economy and for leading this country during uncertain times.”
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