EDMONTON, AB: The NDP government’s plan to increase the price of fuel for all Albertans ignores the transportation realities of living in a small or mid-size Alberta community, the Wildrose Official Opposition said Monday.
The carbon tax will add 4.5 cents to gas prices in Jan. 2017 and 6.7 cents in 2018, while diesel prices will go up even more: a 5.35 cent hike in Jan. 2017 will grow to 8.03 cents in 2018.
“Long commutes aren’t an option in rural Alberta, they’re a necessity,” Wildrose Shadow Transportation Minister Glenn van Dijken said. “As this carbon tax will stick us with the highest fuel taxes on the prairies, Albertans across the province will be paying hundreds of dollars more every year just to get around.”
Van Dijken said the NDP carbon tax is out of touch with the way of life of many Albertans.
“At first, Premier Notley said concerned Albertans should just ‘change the type of car they drive,’ but this isn’t in touch with reality,” van Dijken said. “Rural residents need a reliable vehicle for all of the adverse weather conditions we face.”