Stop the presses, , it would be a lot more worthwhile to reduce the size of government & reduce the deficit

I believe PM Harper is being given bad advice. Reducing diesel tax is not going to be effective in helping my life style. Look what happened to GST. Prices on goods that I purchase went up thus encapsulating the GST reduction. I do not believe the trucking companies and independent contractors are going to think about you and I.

Diesel tax cut is a good idea. Dion’s carbon tax is nonsense. Fuel use will stay mostly the same and cost of everything will go up.

I agree with eliminating the mudslinging. Enough already! Let’s get serious about the real issues beginning with Leadership, Accountability, Sovereignty, Environment, Crime, Health Care, Child Care, Lowering Taxes, Reducing Debt. What have we done and what are we going to do? It amazes me how much has already been accomplished by the current government, inspite of all of the resistance and lack of co-operation.

Why are we taxing fuel in the first place?

And if it must be taxed (must everything be taxed?), then why are the taxes so damn high when they are not collected and used, specifically, for improvement of roads and to support new fuel sources and supply?

Sometime living in Canada is so damn frustrating!

Although I’m not opposed, a similar cut to the tax on gasoline would help me much more, both personally and business-wise. If tax cuts are to be made, I don’t understand why one sector of business should benefit more than another. I don’t drive as much as trucker, but still put 120000km per year on my two company vehicles

We in Canada pay too much tax and we should wecome any and all tax reductions. In addition, we must demand more tax relief. How typical of the left wing opposition to find fault with tax reduction on diesel fuel. Tax payers must work hard to see the Harper government is re-elected.

Cut the diesel tax - why? Just another gimmick that will require more bureaucracy to implement! Cut the bureaucracy! Cut the size of government! Cut the general tax rate!

Any tax cut is welcome.

We’ve heard discussions about this Diesel Fuel tax reduction which on balance is relatively modest, but Harper’s other comments at launch were perhaps even more significant but appear to have gone largely unnoticed. The Conservatives are deliberately not announcing large new expenditures (tax reduction or other) at this time, to hold government spending in check due to the uncertain economic times that lie ahead. Contrast that to the other parties and their flagrant spending promises!

Tax Breaks are always welcome no matter how small they may seem.

Good move Steven.

A tax cut in diesel is better than no cut. But I can’t believe how a northern country like this, where winter it a ‘reality,’ they continue to tax both power to homes and heating fuel or natural gas. Our winter days are dark and cold - is electricity not an essential to keep kids fed, doing homework, laundry to keep clean, and natural gas etc. to keep homes warm? Whoever decided to TAX essential, not just ‘luxury’ items like large screen TV’s - is not fair to Canadians. We are just plain ‘taxed to death’ brought in by a socialist Liberal gov’t and continued with the current one. The diesel tax cut is a crumb - but at least it is a start.

I am very happy that more tax cuts are in the future. I am sure that tax eliminations are also in the future, once Stephen Harper wins a majority government. To be fair, he couldn’t do much with his minority government as having to play ball with a tax happy opposition doesn’t accomplish much.

In the light of the fact : ” A barrel of oil has dropped down from $146 to $104, we are still seeing $1.42 A L at the ripp off pumps, so a couple of cents off of truckers fuel is not going be much of a help to the general public.

With billions of dollars surplus in all three levels of govenments,CUT OUR TAXES ACROSS THE BOARD POLITITIANS, YOU DON`T NEED TO TAX US ANY LONGER, PERIOD!!!!

Two cents off the price of diesel is laughable, when I am still paying 1.42 per litre and the price of a barrel of oil has fallen by 35.00 and my price at the pump has hardly changed at all, also enough of the mud slinging and get on with the real issues, I cant believe my cons. govt. would engage in that, They have shown that they can get a lot done even with a minority, give them a chance to see what can be done with a mojority.

The tax reduction is a good start: it should help relieve the price increases attributed to the cost of fuel for transportation.
Hitler and Stalin concocted enemies so that they could rally the masses and gain a terrible amount of power. Our aspiring statists are using the carbon monster to lead us down the road to serfdom. Stephen Harper and the Conservatives seem to be our only hope of salvation. However, the statists have the CBC, the CRTC, and much of the Civil Service and the Press helping them. It will be a tough battle, Stephen Harper is the man to lead it.

All for it. It is time somebody thinks of helping the trucking industry and through it us the average Joes.

I have no problem paying income taxes, however I am totally against this insidious practice of ‘clawing back’ ones pension.Individuals take it upon themselves to save for the future only to have Revenue Canada steal it away.

Tax but not claw back.

Should help us all as just about everything you buy or own was delivered by diesel powered trucks.

Cutting Diesel tax, from $.04 to $.02, is a joke. It probably costs the government $.02 just to collect it, and that doesn’t include what it costs the industry to figure out how much to pay. It would make more sense to simply remove it, and retire a bunch of civil servants. Same goes for the GST. I would bet that close to 90% of what is collected, is used to pay to collect it, and that too, doesn’t even come close to what it costs business to figure it all out, and pay it. Talk about government waste, and a disincentive to business.

The reduction of the deisel tax is a good start but it should be immediate not over 4 years. Also a committment to spend all fuel taxes on transportation would be an important policy. They could go to rapid transit or other fuel saving opportunities.

Is Harper for real? a .5 cent per litre reduction over the next 4 years. What a joke. If he was raising fuel taxes it would be up 2 cents over night. I’m tired of the rhetoric from all the useless politicians in this country.

I think we need a new Conservative party in Canada. We can call it the Canadian Citizens Coalition. Smaller government, less taxes, free speech and campaigning, no wheat board and the end on official biligualism…Sign me up…

Just about anything that is transported by surface in this country is moved by the burning of diesel fuel (trucks, trains, cargo ships). Any break in the tax should benefit the companies doing the shipping. And what doesn’t get shipped before being consumed? Not much.

Just look at what the US discovered when they decided to tax diesel instead of gasoline a few years back. Sure, gasoline went over U$4/gal, but diesel was over U$5/gal in July this year. The big question is - will the fuel companies pass along the tax reduction or just make it up in their margin?

To Gordon above - prices are prices - presented pre-GST. How do you figure that lowering the GST lead to higher prices on goods and services you consume? Maybe you should take your business somewhere else?

Who started Bill C 51, anyway? I read the blurb about it and I would be ashamed if a Conservative proposed it. Isn’t it past history with the end of the last paliament? If it is a Liberal proposal, blast it out of the water during the election. Hebs and their ability to cure, should be regulated the same as pharmaceuticals so that when a product is offered for sale, its purpose and quality is standardized to meet government set standards.

2 cents over the next four years ……….give me a break ……….. Get rid of all 4 cents effective October 15, 2008

Gordon:

Yes…the prices of your goods went up. That’s because fuel went through the roof…especially diesel. Anything that can reduce the price of fuel that fills the trucks that bring you your goods, it reduces the prices that you pay at your retailer. Prices did NOT go up by retailers to take advantage of the lower GST. That’s moronic in a competative free market society. And …yes…you are right. The trucking companies and the independent contractors, don’t care about you and I. They care about themselves and THEIR families, because many of them will go broke in the next few months. THAT is the reality. So…is Harper on track. You bet! When you look at trains, planes, boats and trains…that’s a lot of diesel. And that’s going to reduce your costs, at least, fractionally. Now…go to your PROVINCIAL & MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS and demand that they REDUCE THEIR TAXES by 50%.

If only.

Action versus ideaology, ya gotta love it!

The reduction will make little difference to most Canadians. If any federal government wants to make areal tax cut, one that will help most citizens, raise the personal examption to $12000 , from the current paltry $9600.

And cut the tax-on -tax that occurs with the GST added to fuel after all the other tariffs have been added.

Yes, cut down on the size of government, from Parliament to the Senate, we are over-governed. Then start on the Health industry and it’s huge bureaucracy.

There are way too many hogs at the trough, it’s time some of them felt the same sting as the thousands of laid off people who contributed to government coffers, like loggers and millworkers, and auto production workers.

A tax cut on diesrl fuel is a good thing, something which no one would go against

2 cents a litre reduction over 4 years is too easily hidden by recipients. Why not take the entire 4 cents off all at once right after the election then the general public can see if it is reducing transportation costs, etc. Otherwise it is just another gimmick thrown out as an election vote grabber.

Why does it take four years to cut 2 cents from the diesel tax ? ?

I’m not so sure the 2 cents per litre will make all that much difference in the long run, though I am always glad to see tax reductions. I would be really pleased to see the national debt reduced with the money instead. It’s not fair to tax our children or to feel we don’t need to be concerned about it.

Totally in agreement with the tax cuts on fuel. The environment is all about creating a greater awareness for what is good for The Planet. As awareness grows so will our care of The Planet. Additional bureacracy is never the answer. Dion is off target with his “shift” approach. We live in Canada…heating ourselves & our homes in winter is essential

I sometimes wonder who Stephan Harper’s “advisors” are. He needs to have a good long look back at what ‘conservatism’ is all about. As it is he is having a hard time pleasing anyone. In my opinion the Conservatives are too ‘reactive’ and not ‘proactive’ enough. It seems every time some party comes up with some ‘buy votes with the taxpayers money’ idea, the Conservative party jumps up and says ‘oh yeah! Well we have a better redistribution plan than they do’. It has been said that taking money out of one persons pocket and putting it another’s is legalized theft.
The bureaucracy in this country including corrupt politicians, un-elected activist judges, an outsized civil service and their unions and environmental extremists coupled with a left-wing media hamstring and demoralize the party and populace. ‘Joe Six-Pack’ is not so much complacent as desensitized but it is really up to us to let everyone know how we feel. Too often we hear ‘well there is nothing we can do about it’ but it is our DUTY to familiarize ourselves with our MP’s ideologue and let – not only them, but also the other parties know what we expect Canada to be. If we do not – others will, and we may not like what their idea of “Canada” is.

Why not cut out the diesel tax altogether and reduce Bureaucracy in this area at least. The additional lost revenue could be made up by an increase in the tax on gasoline.

All tax reductions are a step in the right direction. But government spending is still too high and should be reduced. Then real tax relief and productivity improvement can begin!

Rather than reduce the tax on diesel fuel, the Conservatives should take over management of the Trans Canada highways much like the U.S. did with the Inter States. Anyone that drives the Trans Canada or the Yellowhead, especially truckers, would appreciate having good and consistant highways to travel on. They know that it would save them money not only on fuel, but also tires and maintenace.