The Canadian people, truck drivers, and car owners are waiting today, Monday, April 1st, for the federal government's decision to increase the carbon pollution price by 15 dollars per ton to reach 80 dollars, and the federal carbon tax will be 17.71 cents per liter of gasoline in Ontario.

Dan McTeague, head of Canadians for Affordable Energy, says that the average price of regular gasoline in Ottawa will increase by three cents from 159.9 cents per liter to 162.9 cents per liter today, Monday.

Car drivers will also see a 3 cents per liter increase in Kingston and across eastern Ontario.

One year ago, the average price of gasoline in Ottawa was 1.43 dollars per liter.

The federal government set the pollution price in 2019, stating on its website that carbon pollution pricing is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, and many premiers have called on the federal government to cancel or delay the planned increase in the carbon tax.

Ford told reporters last week: “This tax costs hardworking people more money to drive, work, or take their kids to their hobbies, and it will increase the cost of everything, and it will hurt everyone in Ontario.”

Ontario also extended the current 5.7 percent gasoline tax cut until December 31, 2024.