Alberta suspends 13-cent fuel tax from October to December
Premier Danielle Smith's government is pausing the provincial gas and diesel tax for three months, a move the Canadian Taxpayers Federation says is a better approach than this summer's rebate cheque program.
Why it matters
The three-month tax suspension will lower pump prices for Albertans on gasoline and diesel purchases through the end of December.
Premier Danielle Smith announced Tuesday that Alberta will suspend its 13-cent-per-litre fuel tax on gasoline and diesel from October 1 to December 31, citing rising world oil prices. Under provincial legislation, the entire fuel tax is lifted once a barrel of oil reaches $90 or more.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation welcomed the suspension. Alberta director Kris Sims said the decision follows a rebate cheque program introduced in the summer that struggled to reach Albertans, with only about a third of residents applying for their money back.
Sims said many people had trouble with the rebate program's website and were uncomfortable uploading personal information online, calling the process too arduous for most people to use. The CTF had lobbied the government over the summer to suspend the tax outright rather than issue rebate cheques.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.