Alberta's NDP is calling on the provincial government to audit whether the pause of the 13 cent gas tax is actually being passed along to Alberta motorists as prices at the pumps continue to rise..On Monday, NDP Lorne Dach told Albertans while a litre of gas in Red Deer hovers around $1.80, drivers in Toronto are paying $1.65..“Those kinds of prices are really painful for Alberta families trying to cover their monthly bills, keep a roof overhead and food on the table, let alone if you’re trying to go on a summer road trip,” Dach said..“Back in April, we called on the government to pause the 13 cent gas tax and they did. We called on them to extend that pause into September and they did that as well. But we also said they’d better make sure that those 13 cents are getting passed along to Albertans and not just gobbled up by the gas companies.”.According to Dach, three months later and gas prices are higher than they were before the gas tax was paused.."What’s more, University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe says Alberta gas stations are enjoying profit margins up to four times larger than average, twice the national average, and possibly the largest in Alberta’s history.".“Why on earth is gas cheaper in Toronto than it is here in Red Deer?” Dach asked..“While the UCP are busy fighting each other, Alberta families are paying through the nose just to drive their cars. It’s time for the UCP to step up and audit where the 13 cent tax pause has really gone. Instead of fixing our highways, is it just making gas companies’ shareholders richer?".According to Dach, the gas prices come at the same time as the UCP is forcing Albertans to pay more income tax, more property tax, more school fees, more tuition, more interest on student loans, more for camping, more for electricity, more for natural gas, and more for car insurance..“It’s time for the UCP to hit pause on the infighting and focus on things that actually matter to Alberta families like the price of gas,” Dach said.
