Gas tax in Canada
Federal excise: 0¢ until January 31, 2027
Two federal pieces sit in every litre outside Quebec's carbon market: the excise tax and GST. The excise tax (10¢ on gasoline, 4¢ on diesel) has been at zero since April 20, 2026. On September 2, Finance Canada announced the pause would run to January 31, 2027, with half rates in February and March and full rates from April 1, 2027.
That extension is in Bill C-38, introduced on September 22; as of October 5 it had not passed. The consumer carbon charge was removed on April 1, 2025 and is not part of any pump price today.
Provincial fuel taxes differ far more: Alberta's is suspended at zero from October 1 because oil is above US$90, while Quebec charges 19.2¢. The table below lists each rate with its source; anything we could not confirm at an official source is flagged.
Federal schedule
| Period | Gasoline | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| Until April 19, 2026 | 10.0 | 4.0 |
| April 20, 2026 to January 31, 2027 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| February 1 to March 31, 2027 | 5.0 | 2.0 |
| From April 1, 2027 | 10.0 | 4.0 |
By province
| Province | Gasoline | Diesel | Sales tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec | 19.20 | 20.20 | GST 5% + QST 9.975% | Unchanged since 2013. Reduced by 4.65¢ (gasoline) in outlying regions, 2.3¢ in specific regions and 2 to 12¢ near borders; plus 3¢ for the ARTM in the Montreal area and 1¢ in Gaspésie. Quebec's carbon market (about 8.4¢ on gasoline) sits in the rack price, not in the tax. |
| Ontario | 9.00 | 9.00 | HST 13% | 9¢ rate made permanent on July 1, 2025 (Bill 24, S.O. 2025, c. 10). |
| Nova Scotia | 15.50 | 15.40 | HST 14% | HST at 14% since April 1, 2025. The regulated maximum includes a Clean Fuel Adjustor (10.27¢ for gasoline in Zone 1), which is not a tax. |
| New Brunswick | 10.87 | 15.45 | HST 15% | Rates taken from the Energy and Utilities Board schedule of October 2, 2026. |
| Prince Edward Island | 0.00 | 0.00 | HST 15% | Statutory rates of 8.47¢ (gasoline) and 14.15¢ (diesel) suspended from September 26, 2026 to January 31, 2027, then half rate until March 31, 2027 (reported by CBC and The Canadian Press; not yet confirmed at the official source). unverified |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 7.50 | 9.50 | HST 15% | Rates made permanent by Bill 5 (Royal Assent March 30, 2026). |
| Manitoba | 12.50 | 12.50 | GST 5% | |
| Saskatchewan | 15.00 | 15.00 | GST 5% | |
| Alberta | 0.00 | 0.00 | GST 5% | Provincial fuel tax suspended (0¢) from October 1 until at least December 31, 2026, because WTI is above US$90 (13¢ normally). |
| British Columbia | 14.50 | 15.00 | GST 5% | Total of 27¢ (gasoline) in the TransLink area and 20¢ in Victoria; BC carbon tax eliminated on April 1, 2025. |
| Northwest Territories | 10.70 | 9.10 | GST 5% | |
| Nunavut | 6.40 | 9.10 | GST 5% | |
| Yukon | 6.20 | 7.20 | GST 5% | Rate not yet confirmed at the territorial source. unverified |
Questions
When does the federal gas tax come back?
Finance Canada's schedule is half rate (5¢ gasoline, 2¢ diesel) from February 1, 2027 and the full 10¢/4¢ from April 1, 2027. The extension still needs Bill C-38 to pass.
Is the carbon tax still in gas prices?
The federal consumer carbon charge ended on April 1, 2025. Quebec's cap-and-trade system still adds an estimated 8¢ or so, inside the wholesale price.