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Government won't help motorists with high fuel costs: Stelmach

Last Updated: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 | 1:52 PM ET

CBC News

The Alberta government will not lower taxes to help drivers hard hit by rising gas prices, Premier Ed Stelmach said Monday.

Prices at the pump rose to just under $1.30 a litre on the weekend in most parts of the province.

The Alberta government collects nine cents per litre in gasoline taxes, said Stelmach, the lowest of all the provinces.

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach said Monday the government will not help motorists hit by high gas prices by lowering taxes. (CBC)

"Five cents of that, any fuel bought in Edmonton or Calgary … is returned to those cities for infrastructure, especially pothole repair. So there isn't much that the government is taking."

Stelmach said he is concerned that despite the high cost of gasoline across the country, some federal politicians are talking about adding more taxes to discourage consumption, a plan Alberta has steadfastly opposed.

On Monday NDP Leader Brian Mason called for an emergency debate in the legislature on the issue of high gas prices.

Mason said that he believes drivers are being gouged at the pumps, and the province should step in with such things as more support for public transit and financial incentives for drivers who want to switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles.

But the Speaker of the legislature, Ken Kowalksi, decided the matter was not an emergency and ruled against the motion.

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