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(Image Credit: Canadian Taxpayers Federation)
By Dave Lueneberg
13-cents-per-litre surcharge

Canadian Taxpayers Federation welcomes three-month suspension of provincial fuel tax

Sep 23, 2026 | 8:44 AM

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is glad to see the Province put a temporary freeze on a 13-cent-per-litre tax for gasoline and diesel. 

Premier Danielle Smith announced Tuesday that her government is suspending the surcharge from October 1st to December 31st, due the rising cost of world oil prices.

Alberta director Kris Sims says the move comes after a failed rebate cheque program introduced in the Summer.

“Only around a third of Albertans even tried to get their own money back. They were having trouble with the website. Some of them weren’t comfortable uploading all of their information online,” Sims contends.

“It was too arduous for most people to actually use, so, that’s why we saw not too many people actually taking the government up on their offer of those savings.” 

Under legislation, the fuel tax relief program dictates that once a barrel of oil reaches $90 or more, that the entire 13-cent-per-litre tax is to be lifted.

The CTF had lobbied the government back in the Summer to suspend the provincial tax instead of issuing rebate cheques.

by Dave Lueneberg