Today, the Council of Atlantic Premiers launched a new campaign calling on the federal government to rethink the implementation of the Clean Fuel Regulations and work with them to develop a plan to address the disproportionate impacts on Atlantic Canadians.
Starting in July, due to changing federal regulations, Atlantic Canadians will face increases in the cost of gasoline, diesel and other everyday goods. In addition to the carbon tax, the federal government is imposing new Clean Fuel Regulations that will disproportionately increase costs for Atlantic Canadians. Independent regulators in the region have indicated these Clean Fuel Regulations could cost between 4 and 8 cents per litre, and adjustments will be seen at the pumps by July 7, 2023. To be clear, this increase is in addition to the increases expected on July 1, 2023, due to the increasing Carbon Tax.
Atlantic Premiers are all committed to continuing their work to fight climate change – but feel people in their region should only be asked to play an equal part, and an independent report from the Parliamentary Budget officer indicates they will be forced to pay more than Canadians in other parts of the country.
Clean Fuel Regulations, unlike the partial rebates the federal government intends to provide for the increased Carbon Tax, will not be offset. Atlantic Premiers have a responsibility to make sure Atlantic Canadians recognize these are two separate federal government policies, each of which comes with an increased cost implication for consumers.
Premiers are now asking residents of Atlantic Canada to speak up and ask their MPs to reconsider implementing the Clean Fuel Regulations. Residents can visit www.fightthefedhike.ca to send a letter to their MPs and learn more about the expected impact of this new tax on Atlantic Canadians.
The Council’s new campaign, entitled Fight the Federal Gas Hike, launched online today and will run for the month of July.
For more information, please visit: www.fightthefedhike.ca
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