(Edmonton) Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says the province is taking action on high energy prices by cutting its gas tax.
Posted at 4:22 p.m.
It indicates that the price at the pump will drop by 13 cents per liter on the 1er April for petrol and diesel.
Also from 1er April, the government will offer a $150 rebate on electricity bills.
Mr. Kenney argues that Albertans need real relief from rising costs.
As elsewhere in the country, Alberta motorists are facing steep gas prices due to global demand and the war in Ukraine — with stations selling gas at $1.50 a liter or more.
Mr. Kenney had initially refused to offer a respite for motorists at the pumps when reporters asked him about the issue last week.
He claimed that the measure was illogical given that the federal government is about to increase the carbon tax and that it would raise gasoline at the pump by three cents per liter on the 1er April. Mr. Kenney said he would if the federal government withdrew its planned increase.
“We decided to go ahead anyway because Albertans just need a break,” Kenney said Monday.
The NDP opposition in Alberta had called on the United Conservative government to act on high gas prices as well as rapidly rising utility bills.