Analysis: How April Price Increases Take More Money Out of Taxpayer Pockets

April has ushered in a series of price increases for Canadian taxpayers—from pay raises for government representatives to tax hikes on carbon emissions and alcohol. A 23 percent carbon tax hike, a 2 percent alcohol tax increase, and a 4.2 percent pay raise for members of parliament means more money out of the pockets of Canadians, totaling a nearly 30 percent climb in costs overall, says the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF). “The feds should be providing relief, not hiking taxes that make Canadians’ lives more expensive,” says CTF national director Franco Terrazzano in a press release. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has also been vocal about the affordability crisis and repeatedly has called on Ottawa to “axe the tax” to ease financial pressure on Canadians. He maintains that carbon pricing increases raise the cost of all purchased goods, not just fuel....