Prices climb at the pumps as provincial fuel tax partially returns
Alberta’s fuel tax has been partially reinstated to gas stations across the province, as oil dipped below $90 a barrel for West Texas Intermediate.
On Saturday, prices climbed 4.5 cents per litre, with stations in Calgary advertising regular fuel for $1.56 to $1.64 per litre.
Premier Jason Kenney says Alberta has it better than most provinces.
“On average, we are 16 cents lower than Saskatchewan, 28 cents lower than Manitoba and 62 cents lower than our West Coast friends in B.C.,” said Kenney.
Relief for the fuel tax came in April, when oil was trading around $120 per barrel.
With a significant drop in the price of oil, Kenney says the province needs to return the tax to stay out of debt.
“When the province started to benefit from much higher oil prices, we said Albertans should see some immediate benefit from that,” said Kenney.
“A $40 change in WTI is a $20-billion difference in our fiscal capacity. We don’t want Alberta to suddenly slip back into the red. We got out of deficits for the first time in 14 years and we’ve got to stay there.”
The remaining 8.5 cents will be added to the price of gas when oil is below $80 a barrel.
The fuel relief measures are analyzed quarterly, so the earliest it could return would be the end of the year, if oil drops even more.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson airport gold heist: police
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Trump hush money trial: Play-by-play on Day 2 of Stormy Daniels testimony
Adult film star Stormy Daniels took the stand for a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump's hush money case continues in Manhattan.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.
Wilfrid Laurier football player drafted despite only playing 27 games in his entire life
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.