Legislative Report for September 7, 2005

High gas prices are fast becoming a hardship and all Saskatchewan Party offices have been inundated with calls on how these high prices are affecting people trying to do business, take their crops off and commute to work. Although high fuel prices are universal, we in the Saskatchewan Party have developed a plan to actually do something to give consumers a break when they fill-up at the pumps.

We want the province to cut the 15 cent a litre gas tax by one cent for every dollar the price of oil goes above $60.00 US a barrel. Under our Saskatchewan Party plan, the gas tax would be adjusted monthly, based on the average oil price in the previous month. For example, if the world price averages at $67.00 in September, the provincial tax would drop by seven cents in October.

This proposal wouldn’t cost the province a penny, since higher revenues would offset the tax cut. We are also calling for the elimination of a federal deficit reduction tax on gas and a reduction in the GST charged at the pump. If these federal and provincial tax cuts were combined, prices at the pump could drop by a maximum of 18 cents a litre.

The Calvert government has said no to a reduction the provincial gas tax for Saskatchewan families. The government says they want to put gas tax money towards debt reduction – well why not give families a break at the pumps and use excess oil revenues to pay down debt?

I hear from constituents daily and everyone is feeling this pinch. These prices are making a difference and the price of everything from manufacturing, trucking, and travel will continue to rise. We are hearing the people of Saskatchewan need some relief at the pumps and it’s time the Premier started giving our families the break they deserve.

Past Legislative Reports