November 22, 2024 16:55 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Chhattisgarh: 10 Maoists killed during encounter with security forces in Sukma | Baba Siddique murder case: Arrested Akashdeep Gill used a labourer's hotspot to evade tracking, say police | Donald Trump picks 'smart and tough' Pam Bondi as new US Attorney General after Matt Gaetz withdraws | Canadian government denies media report that claims PM Modi knew of Khalistani leader Nijjar's killing | PM Modi bestowed Dominica's highest award at India-CARICOM Summit
Canada: Alberta to pause provincial fuel tax collection amid high prices of gas
Aberta fuel tax
Representative image of gas station/ credit: Pixabay

Canada: Alberta to pause provincial fuel tax collection amid high prices of gas

| @indiablooms | 09 Mar 2022, 12:29 am

Calgary (AB)/IBNS: In the wake of the skyrocketing price of gas in Canada, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Monday that his government would help the hard-hit consumers by pausing the collection of its 13-cent per litre provincial fuel tax on April 1.

"This massive tax relief is a response to skyrocketing costs at the pump and is going to provide Albertans with the relief that they need when the cost of everything is going up," Kenney told a news conference.

"Albertans told us they needed relief from rising costs. We've heard them loud and clear."

Kenney also said that the pause would remain effective as long as the benchmark price for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil remains above $90 US per barrel.

Resuming the collection of the provincial fuel tax would be only when WTI prices fall below $80 US, he said.

WTI closed at US$119 per barrel on Monday and by 9:30 a.m. MT on Tuesday, had ballooned to US$127 per barrel.

The pause in tax collection will apply to both gasoline, diesel fuel as well as to the four-cent per litre provincial fuel tax on marked (dyed) gasoline and diesel.

Previously Kenney had said the Alberta government would not offer relief to the Albertans at the pumps while the federal carbon tax hike was set to drive prices higher.

But on Monday Kenney said that he changed his mind because Albertans needed immediate relief from escalating fuel prices.

Finance MinisterTravis Toews reportedly said that the change to Alberta's fuel tax will put money back in Albertans' pockets at a time when other levels of government are seeking to take more out.

The government will also provide $150 electricity rebates to help more than Alberta families, farms, and small businesses with high electricity bills with a $50 monthly rebate for each of the months of January, February, and March. The retroactive rebates will be applied directly to energy bills, Kenney said.

The province said it will provide exact details, including rebate timing by working with utilities and regulators.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Related Images
Xi Jinping, Putin in Russia 22 Mar 2023, 02:56 pm
Related Videos