Wednesday April 16 2026 | NATIONAL
News anaysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The NDP says it would be better to cap the big oil companies from charging more, rather than ultimately short-changing federal tax revenues with a gas-at-the-pump tax holiday.
“It’s their profiteering that’s driving up prices,” said NDP Leader Avi Lewis regarding the oil companies. “It’s them who should pay,” he said in an NDP news release yesterday.
Increased oil company revenues/profits will theoretically ultimately produce more revenue for the federal government (via corporate income tax) but it’s a roundabout way to generate revenues and does not in any way appease consumers about affordability.
This comes as most Canadians (as heard in national TV on-the-street interview) either appreciate the small break at the pump or say that other aspects of their finances (e.g. groceries) need more help from government. In other words, the focus on gasoline prices is in many ways too narrow for households that in many ways have no hope of recovery from debt and rising prices on everything.
The excise fuel tax holiday will apply from April 20 to September 7, 2026.
Prime Minister Carney said the trade-off is in balancing lower tax revenues (which are used for all manner of things to run the country — including social support programs) and attempting to provide some lessening of the impact of the Iran war on gasoline and diesel prices.
The NDP suggests that electric vehicles make moot the point of gasoline prices. But also — including today on Power and Politics (CBC TV) NDP Leader Lewis points out how expensive EV’s are for people who are struggling in this economy.
Lewis acknowledges that this is a transitionary phase from dependence on oil while wind and solar-powered energy awaits (and indirectly through batteries that charge EVs and other aspects of the economy).
Oil is of course used for more than vehicle propulsion. A wide range of products in today’s modern society are dependent on oil as a component in production or delivery.
First press conference for Lewis:
Avi Lewis delivered his first NDP Leader press conference in the House of Commons on Monday. He prioritized the need for government to deal with grocery price-fixing using digital surveillance and more broadly take a stronger stand on addressing the affordability challenge that is impacting most Canadian households.
===== RELATED:
- Fuel tax holiday introduced on first day of Liberal majority (April 14, 2026)
- New NDP leader prioritizes affordability & digital surveillance price-fixing (April 13, 2026)
- NEWS SECTIONS: FEDERAL NDP | ECONOMY | AFFORDABILITY