HALIFAX - As drivers filled up on expensive gas and diesel heading into the weekend, some were also thinking about the end of the federal fuel excise tax exemption which could send prices even higher. “Maybe he will find a way to extend it,” said Halifax commuter Mark Dobson, referring to Prime Minister Mark Carney who placed a temporary pause on the tax in April until Sept. 7. The exemption gives Canadians savings of 10 cents a litre for gas and 4 cents a litre for diesel. “We have been feeling it,” said Costa Elles, who owns the Ela! restaurant in Dartmouth, N.S., and added since the start of the war with Iran, costly fuel has impacted the cost of shipping which has made the food for his restaurant more expensive. “We have been noticing a steady increase in pricing,” said Elles. Gas prices in Canada have climbed three cents a litre in the last week, and 34 cents more per litre compared to this time last year. Now, Elles fears another increase is coming when the fuel excise tax goes back into effect next month. “It’s just another thing to deal with,” he said. “It causes uncertainty and it causes fear.” The owner of the Old Triangle Irish Alehouse in Halifax said skyrocketing fuel prices are the biggest financial pressure point when it comes to operating his business. “Whether it’s the boat catching the fish, or the trucks delivering food from Alberta, Ontario or Quebec,” said Brendan Doherty. “Everything travels here by some means, and that takes gas to power.” CTV News contacted the Minister of Finance and National Revenue Francois-Philipe Champagne’s office and asked if extending the federal fuel excise gas tax exemption was being considered but we did not receive a response. Gas analyst Dan McTeague says at a time when Ottawa is already pulling in large amounts of revenue on fuel taxation from HST/GST, government leaders should consider extending the tax holiday well past September. “If the federal government is prepared to tighten its belt and absorb part of the pain that the consumers are feeling, I think it would be a wise political decision,” said McTeague.
