NEWS RELEASE

March 12, 2003                                                                                                   For Immediate Release

BREITKREUZ CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE REDUCTION IN FUEL TAXES

“The $375 million Ottawa takes out of Saskatchewan in fuel taxes every year is highway robbery.”

Yorkton - Fresh off a full week tour of 18 communities in the constituency, Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. for Yorkton-Melville, called on the federal government to reduce fuel taxes immediately.  “I met with more than 800 people last week and while our discussions touched on many issues, the most common complaint I heard was about the high price of fuel and natural gas,” reported Breitkreuz.  “My constituents said they wanted me to tell the Liberals that taxes on fuel should be reduced immediately, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”

“Canadians pay $4.8 billion in fuel taxes every year but instead of putting most of that money into roads like the Province of Saskatchewan does, the government puts these billions into general revenue where they are immediately wasted on the next Liberal billion-dollar boondoggle,” exclaimed Breitkreuz. 

“Since 1992, the federal government has spent just a little over $26 million twinning highways in Saskatchewan.  Even with the Prime Minister’s recent announcement of an additional $70 million dollars over four years for twinning the Trans-Canada Highway, it still isn’t much of a return on investment for the $375 million in fuel taxes Ottawa takes out of Saskatchewan every year.”

“Farmers are especially hard hit.  In addition to keeping their farm vehicles running, the price of natural gas is driving up the cost of fertilizer making it even more difficult to make a living on the farm,” said Breitkreuz.  “The Liberals collect an average of $222 per year from each Canadian in federal fuel taxes and GST on fuel purchases.  That’s a lot of money when you don’t have a dime to spare and the stack of bills on the kitchen table is so high it’s falling over.”

“Highway robbery was supposed to have disappeared with the dark ages.  However the way Liberals siphon money out of Saskatchewan with their fuel taxes, they have found a modern way to bring it back.  They are robbing the hard working people of Saskatchewan.  When Parliament resumes sitting next week, I will be tabling a Private Members’ Motion calling for the government to reduce fuel taxes immediately,” promised Breitkreuz.

-30-