Shadow Finance Minister and CPC leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre sent a letter to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland blaming the Liberal government for the gas price crisis and called for relief at the pumps.."The price of gas in Canada is up 55% from last year. It’s so high, people are suffering and there are no signs of relief," said Poilievre in the letter.."I’ve been touring across Canada — from Vernon, British Columbia to Gander, Newfoundland — and everywhere I go I hear the same thing: Canadians are making really tough choices just to fill up their tanks with gas and get where they need to go.".Poilievre said driving is not a choice for many Canadians who need to work and tend to and care for their families..Citing his much-used term "Justinflation," Poilievre said the Liberal government's policy choices "and the money-printing deficits" have "created this crisis" and made things more costly.."Your gatekeepers have blocked the country from producing oil and gas, so we must buy more from dirty dictators instead of making our own at home," said Poilievre.."And worst of all, your government’s carbon tax — the one you hiked again on April 1 — was designed to make gas more expensive.".Pointing to record prices at the pump — up to $2.09/ltr in the GTA, $2.15/ltr in Montreal and $2.34/ltr in Vancouver. Poilievre said parents are foregoing weekend visits with family "just so they can afford to drive to work on Monday."."And of course, gas isn’t the only thing people can’t afford," said Poilievre.."Moms are going without meals so their kids don’t have to, and 30-year-olds are living in their parents’ basements because they can’t afford a home of their own.".Poilievre said Canadians need relief and called on Freeland to "give people a tax break on gasoline this summer."."Commit to eliminating the gas tax, the carbon tax, and the GST on gas from June 1 to August 31," Poilievre requested.."Give people a break. Let them see their families. Let them drive to work. At this point, it’s the least your government can do.".Poilievre and the Conservative Party of Canada were calling on the Trudeau government to drop the carbon tax for Canadians ahead of the scheduled increase on April 1. The federal carbon tax on gasoline went from 4.4 cents per litre to 6.6 cents..The feds also collect an excise tax of 10 cents per litre on regular gasoline and 4 cents per litre on diesel, along with 5% GST. .Provinces also collect fuel taxes ranging from 8.47 cents per litre in Prince Edward Island to 27 cents per litre in BC's Vancouver area.
