A new poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) shows that most Canadians believe businesses pass the cost of the federal industrial carbon tax onto consumers, increasing the price of essentials like gas, home heating, and groceries.
The Leger poll found that only 12% of Canadians think businesses pay most of the cost of the industrial carbon tax, while 70% said companies pass on some or most of the expense to consumers. Another 19% said they were unsure.
“The poll shows most Canadians understand that a carbon tax on business is a carbon tax on Canadians, and that makes life more expensive,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director.
“A carbon tax is a carbon tax is a carbon tax, and Canadians can’t afford to keep paying more to fuel up their cars, heat their homes, or buy groceries.”
The federal industrial carbon tax applies to sectors such as oil and gas, steel, and fertilizer production.
Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney has promised to repeal the consumer carbon tax but tighten regulations on the industrial carbon tax. He has argued that shifting the tax burden to businesses means “large companies pay for everybody.”
Poll results show that 45% of Canadians believe most of the cost of the industrial carbon tax is passed on to consumers, while 25% think some of the cost is passed on. Only 12% said businesses bear most of the cost.
Terrazzano dismissed Carney’s claim, arguing that industrial carbon taxes make everyday life more expensive for Canadians.
“Carbon taxes on refineries make gas more expensive, carbon taxes on utilities make home heating more expensive, and carbon taxes on fertilizer plants increase costs for farmers, which makes groceries more expensive,” he said.
CTF is pressing Carney to clarify the real financial impact of his proposed changes. “Canadians have a simple question for Carney: How much will your carbon tax cost?” Terrazzano said.
