Fuel prices drop in all three Maritime provinces overnight Friday
Prices at the pumps dipped in all three Maritime provinces Friday ahead of the May long weekend — with diesel seeing the sharpest drop.
In Nova Scotia’s Zone 1, gas fell by 4.6 cents, bringing the minimum price in the Halifax area to $2.03 a litre. Diesel dropped by 17 cents, with the minimum price now $1.95 a litre in Zone 1.
On Prince Edward Island, gas fell by 5.2 cents overnight, bringing the minimum price to $2.05 a litre. Diesel dropped by 28.7 cents, to a new minimum price of $2.13 a litre.
After increasing Thursday, gas prices in New Brunswick dropped 8.6 cents overnight, bringing the maximum price of gasoline to $2.03 a litre. Diesel fell by 16.2 cents, resulting in a maximum price of $2.38 a litre.
GOVERNMENTS HAVE OPTIONS FOR RELIEF, BUT WILL THEY USE THEM?
A motion brought forward by the New Brunswick liberal opposition to eliminate the provincial gas tax for four months fell flat in the legislature Thursday.
If adopted, the price of gas would have dropped by 10.87 cents, and people making $25,000 a year or less would have got a $500 payment from government.
While the motion did not receive consent for debate, it will get a second chance when the legislature sits again on June 1.
By motion or not, a Cape Breton University political science professor says there are options governments can consider to help consumers with high gas prices.
“Quebec gave $500 and is considering another $500, and that way it's a little more equitable for people who rely on other forms of transportation,” said Tom Urbaniank in an interview with CTV Atlantic Thursday.
In Alberta, the province recently suspended its tax on fuel, which led to an immediate reduction in the price of gasoline.
That’s something Nova Scotia's finance minister said won't happen in the province.
Allan MacMaster said, instead, that their focus is on people at the lowest income levels.
“People who have higher incomes, the inflation we're seeing is not a nice thing to experience, but they're more equipped to deal with it than people at the lowest income levels,” said MacMaster in an interview Thursday.
Government officials, however, could get a break. MacMaster says he's reviewing the province's government mileage rate.
“Anybody that is working for the government and providing service to the public, we don't want there to be any out-of-pocket costs,” said MacMaster. “There is a cost to deliver services and it's the government's costs to bear.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.