(Canadian Press file photo)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Demanding An Explanation

Premier Kenney looking into high price of gasoline in the province

Jul 22, 2022 | 5:04 PM

Premier Jason Kenney is looking for answers as to why gas prices remain high in the province, despite government measures to make them more affordable.

“Alberta’s government showed tremendous leadership on fighting inflation when it eliminated the 13-cent per litre provincial fuel tax on April 1,” said Kenney on Friday. “This resulted in immediate and significant savings for Albertans at the pump, with Alberta having by far the lowest gasoline prices in Canada thanks to the fuel tax cut.

“That’s because gasoline retailers chose to pass these savings along to their customers. However, over the last 10 days, the gas price advantage Albertans have enjoyed relative to other provinces has disappeared and it now appears Albertans are no longer benefiting from the tax cut.

“As I said when we announced this measure in March, we won’t accept any games being played with this.

“First, this afternoon I met with the Canadian Fuels Association to express Albertans’ frustration with recent gas price trends and demand an explanation for why this is going on.

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“Second, I will ask the Competition Bureau of Canada to investigate potential gasoline price fixing in Alberta. Under the Competition Act, it is illegal for competitors to mutually agree to set prices. Albertans deserve to know if this is going on.

“Finally, I have directed Service Alberta to explore whether there are any tools we could use under Alberta’s Consumer Protection Act on this matter.

“With Alberta no longer collecting fuel taxes at the pump, Albertans deserve to know why they are suddenly paying as much for gasoline as motorists in Toronto when as recently as two weeks ago they were paying far less.”

Kathleen Ganley, NDP Critic for Energy, made the following statement in advance of Premier Kenney’s statement on Friday, regarding gas prices in Alberta in response to new analysis from the University of Calgary:

“Cutting the provincial gas tax was supposed to provide relief to Albertans struggling to pay for the basics. But thanks to the UCP, those 13 cents a litre have simply been added to the profit margins of the gas stations. The UCP’s negligence hurts families, small businesses, and our provincial economy.

“I called on the UCP to take action to prevent this in April, and they failed to do so. Now Albertans are paying 13 cents a litre more to fill up than they should be, just as many families are preparing for summer road trips.

“Minister Sonya Savage must address Albertans today and explain how she intends to return the provincial gas tax savings to Albertans.”