Our mandate is simply to encourage Canadians to fight back against the rising costs of fuel. We urge Canadians to hold their leaders at the Provincial and Federal level accountable for the recent spikes in gasoline prices in Canada. We need more Government oversight, transparency and competition in Canada and thus far our Provincial leaders and their Federal counterparts have been ignorant to the causes of these price spikes and reluctant to do anything to ease the burden of rising prices.
What do we need from Ottawa?
First and foremost we need transparency. This would include the creation of a National Office of Petroleum Pricing. This office could oversee the fuel industry in Canada, provide Canadians with answers as to why prices are the way they are and provide Canadians with comprehensive reports showing Canadians our imports, exports, supply and refining capacities.
Secondly, we need changes to the Canadian Competition Act. Our current version does not protect consumers in regards to fuel pricing strategies. We need a strong Act that protects all Canadians from predatory pricing strategies, holds oil companies and refiners responsible when they overcharge for their product and most importantly stimulates competition at the refinery level as oppsed to inhibit growth of that sector.
Lastly we need the Federal Government to reduce their Federal Excise Tax from 10% to 5% to ease the tax burden of provinces like Ontario who saw the HST take effect on July 1, 2010. Currently Ontarians pay tax as follows on gasoline:
14.7% Ontario Sales Tax
10% Federal Excise Tax (5% of which is GST)
13% HST (8% of which is old PST and 5% GST)
As you can see Ontarians are paying GST twice on fuel. This equates into a tax, on a tax, on a tax. We are asking Ottawa to eliminate the portion of the Federal Excise Tax that represents GST as we are already paying a harmonized sales tax.
We are also asking Mr. McGuinty to either eliminate the HST from fuel altogether and reduce the 14.7% Ontario Sales Tax to 7%. This will help ease the financial burden felt by Ontario drivers and reduce the pain at the pump. Ontario Sales Tax was once used to fund road and infrastructure repairs in the province, this may or may not be the case. Ontario needs transparency and accountability.
The only way that organizations like our can be successful is with support from the communities across Canada who are feeling the heat of higher fuel prices. We are not asking for the product to be free but we are seeking a fair level of taxation and a stable, competitve marketplace which is good for everyone involved.
We are urging you to contact your local MPP or MP and voice your displeasure with fuel prices across Canada. Ask them to help all Canadians by getting involved with changes to our Competition Act, creating greater transpareny in the fuel industry and taxing fuel fairly. We know you can do it, we know they can do it.
"If we work together, nothing is impossible"
GasMizer
