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But the Conservatives have increased taxes, said Bray, by way of the tariffs, which will increase prices for a number of consumer products, including bicycles.

NDP critic Murray Rankin said the Conservatives are raising tariffs on bicycles to 13 per cent from 8.5 per cent, an increase the Opposition estimates will cost Canadian cyclists between $5 and $6 million annually.

The New Democrats say Canada annually imports $125 million in bicycles from the dozens of countries covered by the increase.

“Stephen Harper promised Canadians that he would not impose new taxes on them,” said Rankin.

“But he is raising taxes on bicycles and over 1,200 types of consumer goods.”

Stephen Harper promised Canadians that he would not impose new taxes on them, but he is raising taxes on bicycles and over 1,200 types of consumer goods

The Tories, however, called the New Democrats hypocritical when it comes to tax increases.

“The NDP has a lot of nerve,” said Dan Miles, a spokesman for Flaherty.

“The Harper government has been cutting taxes since it was elected in 2006, and the NDP opposed every single tax cut,” he said.

“If it were up to the NDP, Canadians families would be sending thousands more in taxes to Ottawa each year.”

The rise in tariffs came in Flaherty’s most recent budget in March.

The NDP has a lot of nerve

The document contained a notice that, starting in 2015, Canada is “graduating” 72 countries previously classified as developing to full developed status for the purpose of tariffs.

The increases are in contrast to the removal of all import duties on sporting and athletic equipment and a few other items that Flaherty highlighted in his March budget.

Those changes could mean lower prices for such things as hockey pants and gloves, as well as baby clothes.

The government estimates that the elimination of duties on sports equipment and baby clothes will cost $76 million a year, while the treasury will gain $333 million annually through increasing other tariffs.