The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has released the results of a recent Leger poll which found four out of five Canadians oppose the pay hike members of Parliament are taking on April 1.
The Taxpayers Federation suggested it's wrong that MPs will take home more pay on the same day that they hike taxes for Canadians. Residents will face increases on the carbon tax and alcohol tax hikes on April 1. The carbon tax will increase to 14 cents per litre of gasoline and 12 cents per cubic metre of natural gas.
The CTF estimates this year’s pay raise will mean backbench MPs will take home an extra $5,100, and the Prime Minister's pay would increase by $10,200. This will be the fourth MP pay raise since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“MPs are taking higher pay the same day they take more money from Canadians and that’s wrong,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “At the very least, Freeland must cancel the MP pay and tax hikes in the budget.”
Meanwhile, the alcohol escalator tax automatically increases federal excise taxes on beer, wine and spirits every year by the rate of inflation. Alcohol taxes will increase by 6.3 per cent on April 1. Last week, MPs passed a motion calling on the “government to cancel its April 1, 2023 tax increase on beer, wine and spirits.”
“The government shouldn’t be making life more expensive with tax hikes when Canadians can’t afford gas or groceries,” Terrazzano said. “MPs don’t deserve pay raises when their tax hikes make life unaffordable.”