The Alberta government is investigating rising gas prices across the province, just days before the federal consumer carbon tax is set to be scrapped. Read More
Prime Minister Mark Carney killed the consumer carbon levy as one of his first acts upon taking office earlier this month
Prime Minister Mark Carney killed the consumer carbon levy as one of his first acts upon taking office earlier this month
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The Alberta government is investigating rising gas prices across the province, just days before the federal consumer carbon tax is set to be scrapped.
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Drivers in Calgary saw prices at many stations jump to 158.9 and higher Friday, following a similar spike the previous week. The average price for a litre of regular unleaded gas in Calgary was 157.1 on Sunday, according to GasBuddy.com, up from 143.9 at the start of March. Some Costco stations were selling for as low as 139.9.
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Premier Danielle Smith said the price rises led her to direct a review, noting she’s not seen any significant change in wholesale prices to warrant the change.
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Noon News Roundup
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“Maybe it’s the discussion about tariffs that are impacting it because businesses proactively build prices into some of their decisions,” the premier said on her call-in radio show Saturday.
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Services Alberta Minister Dale Nally is leading the review.
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Smith warned that the province will be watching gas prices after the carbon tax is removed to see if savings are passed on to consumers.
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“What we don’t want to happen is to have a phoney tax cut,” Smith said. “We don’t want to have consumers getting ripped off.
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“We have the ability to trace that. Don’t rip off consumers . . . and so, fair warning, we’re going to be taking a look at it.”
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Prime Minister Mark Carney killed the consumer carbon levy as one of his first acts upon taking office earlier this month. As of Tuesday, the price everyday Canadians pay for emissions is to be set at $0.
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The current carbon price for each litre of gas is 17.6 cents, meaning drivers should see a substantial saving at the pump.
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Calgarians observing gas prices ‘going high’ in recent weeks
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Calgary drivers at the pump on Sunday expressed frustration over rising prices and uncertainty about when relief would arrive.
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“It’s too high for us right now,” said Ramandeep Kaur, while her husband put gas in their vehicle at an Esso station near Edmonton Trail and 16th Avenue N.E.
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“It’s been very difficult for (my husband),” she said, noting he drives for Uber and makes frequent trips to the pump.
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Kaur has observed gas prices “going high” in the last two weeks, but said she and her husband are optimistic that the looming carbon tax removal will bring savings.
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“We are hopeful (prices) will go down. It will be good for us,” she said.
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Ali Iman has also been feeling pinched at the pump by rising gas prices.