Gas $1.14 A Litre In Quebec

[BHS]

But then, Goodale was only considering a 3 cent reduction in taxes, not 15 cents. The Feds aren't responsible for roads, they aren't responsible for natural resources, so the only way they can get into the Transportation game is to create money-losing monopolies in air and rail transport and to levy taxes, which they can then redistribute in whatever arbitrary and irritating fashion is most likely to keep them relevant. A truly effective reduction in the gas tax would take away their stake in this aspect of the lives of most Canadians. Quelle horreur.

[August1991]

The following Petro-Canada web site shows taxes on gasoline. If I take the case of Quebec, gasoline is special because it is subject to the federal excise tax of 10 cents per litre and then a provincial excise tax of 15.2 cents per litre. (The GST and provincial sales tax should apply as they do to all (or most) goods and services.) Licensing fees for cars and drivers vary by province, as do insurance schemes.

I don't know how much the federal and provincial governments spend on road infrastructure, so we don't know if drivers pay their way or not.

I think it could be argued that the federal excise tax is less than the environmental damage (noise & air pollution) caused by cars.

[BHS]

The following Petro-Canada web site shows taxes on gasoline.  If I take the case of Quebec, gasoline is special because it is subject to the federal excise tax of 10 cents per litre and then a provincial excise tax of 15.2 cents per litre.  (The GST and provincial sales tax should apply as they do to all (or most) goods and services.)  Licensing fees for cars and drivers vary by province, as do insurance schemes.

I don't know how much the federal and provincial governments spend on road infrastructure, so we don't know if drivers pay their way or not.

I think it could be argued that the federal excise tax is less than the environmental damage (noise & air pollution) caused by cars.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How, precisely, do you calculate the value of noise and air pollution?

[mcqueen625]

Provincial tax

G.S.T. you can thank the Conservatives for the G.S.T.

Alberta sells most of our oil to Uncle Sam. You see in this world Uncle Sam comes first!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What do you mean "OUR OIL? Quebec only seems to want to be part of Canada when they can get somethjing or claim it as theirs, otherwise they want to separate. As far as I'm concerned they can leave anytime, and the sooner the better, because when they leave we won't ever be stuck with another Quebecois as PM, and that can only be a good thing.

[mcqueen625]

The following Petro-Canada web site shows taxes on gasoline.  If I take the case of Quebec, gasoline is special because it is subject to the federal excise tax of 10 cents per litre and then a provincial excise tax of 15.2 cents per litre.  (The GST and provincial sales tax should apply as they do to all (or most) goods and services.)  Licensing fees for cars and drivers vary by province, as do insurance schemes.

I don't know how much the federal and provincial governments spend on road infrastructure, so we don't know if drivers pay their way or not.

I think it could be argued that the federal excise tax is less than the environmental damage (noise & air pollution) caused by cars.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have to take issue with the damage caused by cars on our roads and highways. My contention is that far more damage is done by one transport truck that there is with 100 cars. Now we have B-Trains on highways that were not built for that kind of concentrated weight. Maybe it is time to rebuild our rail system from coast to coast, and take many of these trucks off the roads and the roads will last much longer.

Both CN Rail and CP Rail have abandoned much of their infrastructure in Altantic Canada, and are thriving south of the border. Most of the freight is now being trucked in and out of Atlantic Canada, causing massive damage to our highways right across Canada. The only railway presence we have are small regional railways. For instance in NB, Irving has taken over much of the rail traffic for his own industries using a company owned railway that they have named NB Southern, a subsiduary of Sunbury Transport. He also owns Midland Transport, RST Transport, all subsiduaries of Sunbury Transport, and Kent Lines provides him with ships to haul oil to further destinations.

What we need is to put national railways back together in order to preserve our roads and highways, as well as cut pollution.

[August1991]

How, precisely, do you calculate the value of noise and air pollution?

I don't. I know such calculations exist but I don't have any links readily at hand.

I am guessing that 25 cents per litre (federal and Quebec provincial excise taxes) are less than the cost imposed to others of driving a car anywhere at any time.

Both CN Rail and CP Rail have abandoned much of their infrastructure in Altantic Canada, and are thriving south of the border. Most of the freight is now being trucked in and out of Atlantic Canada, causing massive damage to our highways right across Canada. The only railway presence we have are small regional railways.

Your post is somewhat illogical but I nevertheless agree with your basic premise. Canada's transportation system is a mess, and it incurs great costs on us all. For such a country as ours, this is sad. When Argus says that we are imposing a debt on future generations, this is the correct example. We are leaving to the future not only polluted environments but also an unviable infrastructure.

Independent truckers are probably more efficient than large railways but truckers incur greater unseen costs.

[August1991]

In case anyone cares about this anymore, the retail price of gasoline in Montreal is now at 99 cents a litre and falling.

It appears Big Oil doesn't respect price-fixing cartel agreements. And Peak Oil is apparently yet upon us.