Alberta Gas Prices Soar, Tax Unchanged

0:00Gas prices in Alberta are sitting around $1.50 per liter, thanks to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran pushing up global. Oil costs Premier Danielle Smith made it clear a heredio show that the province won't pause its 13-cent provincial fuel tax, saying it would only save. Drivers about $7.15 on a 55-liter tank and wouldn't tackle the bigger issue of worldwide crude prices. Earlier this week, oil benchmarks like West Texas Intermediate dipped below $90 a barrel after some de-escalation news, but prices remain, elevated since late February. Alberta's fuel tax relief program didn't kick in for this quarter because the average price over 20 trading days ending mid-March was just. $75.25 short of the $80 trigger. Folks are feeling the squeeze, especially drivers and transport workers, with experts warning of knock-on effects like higher grocery and heating, bills.

1:00The province is staring down a $9.4 billion budget deficit, so economists say keeping the tax health balance the books, rather than handing out rebates that could worsen the shortfall. Looking ahead, airlines like Air Canada and WestJet are already tweaking ticket prices due to jet-fuel spikes and resorts in places like BAMF might. Follow suit with higher rates for food transport and services. One oil analyst notes it would take prices over $150 a barrel to really curb summer road trips. As tensions in the Middle East simmer, Albertans may need to rethink habits like car-pulling more or skipping some outings to ease the pump pain, without derailing plans entirely. This has been Canada News Today, powered by AI.