Premier Kathleen Wynne said she wouldn't raise taxes on the middle class, but her budget's jet-fuel tax hike would add $200 in costs to a family flying from Toronto to Asia, says an anti-tax group.

“Who does she think flies? Business travellers and wealthy Canadians may not notice this tax hike, but middle class parents visiting their kids, reconnecting with family or taking a well-earned holiday certainly will," said Candice Malcolm, Ontario director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

The May 1 budget, rejected by the NDP triggering the June 12 election, hiked jet fuel taxes by $65 million by 2016. The measures were part of other tax increases for tobacco and high incomes that will raise another $1.1 billion in two years for transit, job subsidies and social programs.

The budget is the campaign platform for the Liberals for the June 12 vote and would be reintroduced if they are re-elected.

In a report Thursday, the federation calculated the expected airline fare increases after the 148-per-cent hike on aviation fuel from 2.7 cents to 6.7 cents a litre contained in the budget.

The group, which advocates for smaller government, lower taxes and balanced budgets, said the changes would raise the costs for a family of four flying from Toronto's Pearson Airport to visit relatives in Manila or Shanghai by $200.68.

"This new tax will simply make it more out of reach for everyday Ontario families to afford a trip to Disney World or to visit family overseas,” said Malcolm.

The federation noted the Ontario hikes come as B.C. eliminated its jet fuel tax entirely, and U.S. hubs like Buffalo airport are competing aggressively for Canadian travellers fed up with high air travel costs.

“Wynne and the Liberals are ignoring the fact that Toronto is already the most expensive airport in the world, thanks to existing government policies,” said Malcolm. “This tax hike will just make things worse.”

Heard: Anti-tax group hammers Wynne over jet fuel tax hike

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