Alberta to see a break at the pump but not B.C.

By ending the collection of the Provincial Fuel Tax on April 1, Kenney says it will cause gasoline and diesel prices to drop by $0.13 per litre, and marked gasoline and marked diesel will drop by $0.04.

The province says because the GST also applies to provincial fuel taxes, the 13-cent reduction will also reduce the GST by 0.65 cents per litre, for total tax savings of about 13.6 cents per litre of gasoline and diesel.

However, Kenney explains that this fuel tax relief is based on a sliding scale for oil prices.

“When the price of oil is over $90 per barrel, (West Texas Intermediate), the fuel tax will be removed completely, when the price of oil (WTI) is less than $80 per barrel, the fuel tax of $0.13 per litre will be in full effect.”

So, will the B.C. government follow suit? That question was asked in a separate news conference today.

“The reality is, is that the gas price situation is driven by events outside of provincial control. The invasion of Ukraine have [sic] dramatically upset the energy markets,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General “Not just here in British Columbia, but, in fact right around the world.”

However, Minister Farnworth left some people confused and filled with further questions.

“At the same time, you know in terms of affordability we have taken a number of initiatives on affordability in general. to make life more affordable, whether it is around providing significant savings in terms of child care in this province, moving towards ten dollar-a-day child care. Whether it’s been the changes that have come about in ICBC insurance that have seen people’s insurance drop on average of $491 a year along with the rebates we were able to offer. At the same time recognizing that if there were other initiatives that could be taken obviously we would, we will try and look at that. But, there is no simple solution to the situation of rising fuel prices.”

Drivers could see fuel prices rise to $2.50 per liter in the lower mainland by week’s end.

With files from Abby Zieverink

by Randi-Marie Adams

Alberta to see a break at the pump but not B.C.

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