Alberta drops fuel tax to zero, saving residents hundreds of dollars
Kris Sims, Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, says the group's efforts to push Premier Danielle Smith's government to freeze provincial fuel taxes were a success, and that Albertans will save hundreds of dollars from October 1 through the end of 2026.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation spent all of August calling for Alberta's fuel taxes to be reduced to zero. The taxpayer watchdog held five press conferences, published five news releases and attended pancake-and-politics breakfasts across Alberta.
CTF Alberta director Kris Sims did it with her kids in tow, making them hold signs and carry equipment. The message was the same every time: drop the fuel tax to zero.
And on this week's episode of The Gunn Show, she told Sheila Gunn Reid it worked.
"They announced it and we're super happy," an excited Sims said. Starting October 1, Alberta is dropping its fuel tax to zero — scrapping the rebate program that Sims called a "silly little gimmick" — and delivering straight savings at the pump through December 31.
But what does 13 cents a litre actually mean for Albertans? Sims broke it down: every time you fill up a family minivan, you save about $10. A regular pickup truck, about $15.
"Ten bucks, I can get a roast chicken for 10 bucks," she said. "Fifteen bucks, I can get a roast chicken and a jug of milk." For a busy two-vehicle family filling up once a week, the savings add up to roughly $350 between October 1 and December 31. And for big rig truck drivers filling those large tanks, it's about $130 saved every single fill-up, just from this one tax cut.
Sims was also quick to note that diesel relief matters beyond truckers. "Do we ever need a break on diesel right now," she said, pointing to prices near $2.60 a litre in Lethbridge. "That means the price of everything is going to go up, by the way, guys."
There is a catch.
The tax holiday expires December 31, 2026. Sims said the CTF is already drafting the emails it will blast out before Christmas, putting pressure on Finance Minister Jason Nixon to extend it past New Year's Day.
"We will fight that fight," she said. "Do not hike this up on January 1." For now, though, Sims says Albertans should take the win, since Premier Danielle Smith and Finance Minister Jason Nixon did the right thing.
And Kris Sims and the Canadian Taxpayers Federation — and the supporters who donated, emailed, and made phone calls all summer — made it happen.
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