Canadian Taxpayers Federation calls on province to cut Alberta gas tax

She said what citizens have communicated to the CTF are challenges in applying for the rebate, as well as a hesitancy to provide certain personal information to the government, such as selfies and banking information.

“[The province] should go back to the drawing board and actually enact their own rules. Their own rules stated that if the price of a barrel of oil goes over $80, $85, and then $90 US per barrel for an extended period of time, they’re going to drop the fuel tax down to $0. They didn’t do that,” she said.

She noted that the provincial fuel tax is 13 cents per litre for gasoline and diesel, which is important to eliminate because everything we eat and use is shipped to us by truck.

“We are calling on the Alberta government to say, you know what? You tried, but it doesn’t look like it’s working. The good thing to do is to drop this tax,” she said.

rdnewsNOW did reach out to the Alberta Ministry of Treasury Board and Finance for comment but did not receive a statement by publishing time. The Ministry did say they were working on a statement, which will be added to the story when it’s received.

Federally, the CTF is asking Prime Minister Mark Carney not to increase the excise tax rate on gasoline and diesel.

Back in April, he temporarily set the tax to $0, which is set to come to an end on Sept. 7, 2026.

Sims said Carney did the right thing in April by dropping the tax, but fears gas could get even more expensive after Labour Day.

She added that the CTF is getting tons of emails from people saying they can’t afford the price of food, housing, and fuel.

Sims explained that the CTF did Leger polling, which unveiled that over 70 per cent of Canadians opposed reinstating the tax.

The poll also found 43 per cent strongly oppose a federal excise tax increase, 20 per cent are somewhat opposed, 17 per cent are somewhat supportive, and eight per cent strongly support an increase.

“We’re asking the Prime Minister to hold off. Don’t increase the federal excise tax again and to keep it off completely,” she said.

“Affordability is a major crisis, and people are tapped out. I think Carney’s going to listen because I know for a fact he’s receiving emails and that he reads the polls. I bet within the next week or so they’re going to announce that they’re extending the fuel tax holiday.”

by Ian Gustafson

Canadian Taxpayers Federation calls on province to cut Alberta gas tax

What's Trending