Alberta drivers are paying less at the gas pumps this summer, thanks in large part to the removal of the consumer carbon tax, according to Kris Sims, Alberta director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF).“Albertans are paying plenty in gas taxes already,” Sims told the media on Thursday.“On average, we pay 29 cents per litre for gas.”Sims highlighted that the elimination of the carbon tax has resulted in significant savings for drivers.“I was blown away by how much money people are saving. A big rig truck driver, without the carbon tax, saves about $200 every time they fill up with diesel,” she said.“Most Canadians are saving 20 cents per litre of gasoline this summer.”.The CTF praised average hardworking Canadians for opposing the carbon tax, which, according to Sims, had previously added “$13 per family minivan fill-up” and “$20 per pickup truck fill-up.”“This is a victory for taxpayers across Canada,” Sims said.While Alberta’s gas prices are lower than in some provinces, Sims pointed out that the province still isn’t the cheapest.Manitoba — governed by the NDP — currently boasts the lowest gas taxes, narrowly beating Saskatchewan, which has become a carbon tax-free zone under Premier Scott Moe.Sims feels that Alberta could reclaim a leadership role in this area if Premier Danielle Smith were to reduce gas taxes further.“It bugs me that Manitoba is beating us for the lowest gas taxes,” Sims stated.“Premier Smith only froze the industrial carbon tax — that’s not good enough. We want her to take a page from Scott Moe.“We’re a rat-free province; we should be a carbon tax-free province too.”.CTF slams federal government for $54 billion in debt interest costs .Alberta has a history of temporarily waiving gasoline taxes and saving drivers money at the pumps, such as when Premier Smith reduced them to zero.However, Sims stressed that tax relief needs to be paired with fiscal responsibility.“It depends on how much people are demanding it and how much they can afford it,” she told the Western Standard.“[The CTF] does hear them when it comes to things like balancing the budget, but what we get annoyed at is when they take away the tax cut and we don’t see serious cuts in things like bloated government unions and middle management.”Sims also warned of future industrial carbon taxes under Mark Carney, which could increase costs for fuel and fertilizer, potentially affecting both drivers and farmers.Sims urged the provincial government to prepare for these changes and protect Alberta residents from additional costs.“We’re telling Premier Smith to make this 'Fortress Alberta,’” she said.“Make sure we’re ready to fight whatever Prime Minister Mark Carney brings us.”
