Laila Goodridge, House of Commons 2025. File Photo
FORT McMURRAY — Fort McMurray-Cold Lake MP Laila Goodridge is joining Conservative calls for the federal government to extend its fuel tax holiday as Canadians continue to face high prices at the pump.
The temporary suspension of the federal excise tax is scheduled to end after Labour Day, restoring 10 cents per litre on gasoline and four cents per litre on diesel.
The tax was suspended by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government amid sharply higher fuel prices linked to the U.S. war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Goodridge says allowing the tax to return would add to affordability pressures already facing households.
“Carney says affordability is ‘the best it’s been in a decade.’ Tell that to Canadians at the gas pump and grocery store,” said Goodridge.
“The September gas tax hike will make everything more expensive. Conservatives are calling on Carney to cancel it and cut taxes on fuel to save Canadians up to 25 cents per litre.”
The Conservative Party is now calling for all federal taxes on gasoline and diesel to be removed until at least Canada Day 2027.
Earlier this month, Conservative finance critic Michael Chong called on the government to extend the excise tax holiday through the end of 2026, remove the GST from gasoline and diesel and eliminate the Clean Fuel Regulations.
Chong said those measures could save drivers up to 25 cents per litre.
“Cutting the taxes on fuel and eliminating regulation won’t just lower prices at the pump, but make the cost of everything shipped by a truck or train that uses fuel, from food to homebuilding materials, more affordable,” Chong said.
The Conservatives cited polling showing 63 per cent of Canadians oppose ending the excise tax suspension, including 43 per cent who strongly oppose its return.
The party also pointed to OECD figures identifying energy and food prices as primary drivers of inflation in Canada.
Goodridge says Canadians need continued relief from high costs.
“Canadians need relief,” she said.
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