Alberta government set to hike gasoline tax

Provincial gas tax set to jump to 4.5 cents per litre Oct. 1

LETHBRIDGE, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the Alberta government to scrap its plans to hike gas taxes.

“Back in the spring, this government did the right thing when it scrapped its 13 cent-per-litre tax on gasoline and diesel and now it’s doing the wrong thing by jacking it back up to 4.5 cents.” said Kris Sims, Alberta Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “The government’s own calculations show this tax hike at the pumps will cost you more than $6 to fill up a pickup truck, that’s the cost of a jug of milk.”

In April, the Kenney government scrapped its provincial excise tax on fuel, which was 13 cents per litre of gasoline and diesel.

The Alberta government announced it’s raising gas taxes by 4.5 cents because oil prices have softened. It also plans to put the gas tax all the way back up to the full 13 cents-per-litre when the price of oil drops to $79.99 USD per barrel.

“The United Conservative Party leadership candidates should all commit to scrapping this tone-deaf tax hike on Albertans,” said Sims. “Has the cost of living suddenly become more affordable? Has the price at the pumps plummeted? Nope! People are struggling to afford the basics with inflation at historic highs, interest rates jumping and gas taxes kicking us while we are down.”

Kris Sims is the Alberta Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation