POLL: Canadians oppose upcoming gas tax hike

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released Leger polling showing 63 per cent of Canadians oppose the federal government hiking fuel taxes in September.

“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 Federal Director. “Carney needs to listen to Canadians and confirm that he will not be hiking gas taxes in September.”

The federal government temporarily suspended its fuel tax on gas and diesel. The federal government will hike its fuel tax back up to 10 cents per litre of gas and four cents per litre of diesel on Sept. 8, 2026.

The Leger poll asked Canadians if they support or oppose the government increasing fuel taxes in September. Results of the poll show:

• 43 per cent strongly oppose the tax increase
• 20 per cent somewhat oppose the tax increase
• 17 per cent somewhat support the tax increase
• 8 per cent strongly support the tax increase
• 11 per cent don’t know

Most Canadians in every demographic – gender, age and province – oppose the federal government increasing fuel taxes in September. Women, people aged 55 and over and Canadians living in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are most likely to oppose the fuel tax increase.

Among those decided on the issue, 71 per cent of Canadians oppose the fuel tax increase.

“Carney needs to permanently cut the gas tax because Canadians can’t afford to pay more to fuel up their vehicles and also pay higher prices for everything that is trucked to store shelves,” Terrazzano said. “Cutting taxes makes life more affordable and the government needs to cut spending so it can provide permanent relief without ballooning the debt.”

Drivers also pay provincial fuel taxes, hidden carbon taxes and transit taxes in some cities. The federal government and some provinces calculate sales taxes after all the per-litre taxes are added. Taxes account for up to 35 per cent of the price of gas in Canada, according to the CTF’s Gas Tax Honesty Report.

For more information or to schedule interviews, please contact:

Franco Terrazzano
CTF Federal Director
Phone: 403.918.3532
Email: fterrazzano@taxpayer.com