No relief yet as gas prices keep going up
By Lethbridge Herald on March 9, 2022.
Herald photo
Motorists pass by as a sign posts the price of regular gasoline outside a gas station Tuesday along 6 Ave. South.Al Beeber – Lethbridge Herald
The provincial government’s plan to temporarily cut its tax on gasoline prices may not provide drivers much solace until April 1 arrives.
While the new measure Is expected to save Alberta drivers about $1.3 billion at the pump, that relief isn’t helping now.
A survey of gasoline prices in southern Alberta and the country Tuesday shows how much drivers are paying.
The lowest price in Lethbridge on Tuesday morning, according to gasbuddy.com, was at Costco with regular gas priced at $154.9 cents a litre.
Other stations were charging 158.9 cents while a Petro-Can on McMaster Blvd had regular at 172.9 cents a litre. An Esso at Circle K on Columbia Blvd. West had regular at 173.9 cents.
Two stations in Coaldale – Fas Gas and Esso – were both charging 158.9 while a Shell station had its price set at 173.9.
Prices in Taber varied from a low of 157.9 at Co-op and Esso to a high of 167.9 at Petro-Canada.
Two stations in Fort Macleod were both selling regular at 173.9 Tuesday.
Two stations in Claresholm were selling regular for 157.9 while three others had it priced at 167.9.
In Calgary, prices ranged from 154.9 to 162.9.
In Edmonton Tuesday, drivers could fill up on regular for a low of 145.9. The high, according to gas buddy, was 154.9.
In Vancouver Tuesday, the lowest price for regular was 199.9 while other stations were charging between 203.9 and 208.9.
In nearby Fernie, prices ranged between 169.9 and 179.9.
Just across the border in Saskatchewan, drivers could expect to pay 158.9 in Maple Creek. In Regina, prices ranged between 149.9 and 168.9.
16-15
In consideration of the fact that Canadian provincial governments actually have, the power, to regulate fuel prices, would the Kenney UCP, for example, have the kuhonas to regulate/lower the price of fuel to a more affordable level, even risking the wrath of the retailers and the free market enterprisers? Which group includes the most voters? The consumers?
By allowing fuel prices to still be high, despite the 13 cents reduction, the silver lining is: less fuel being burned and the drive toward weaning off fossil fuels and energy transition. Surveys clearly indicate that the majority of Albertans favour weaning and transitioning.