Motion – Higgs Gas Tax

There was no need for Premier Higgs to make it legally possible for Irving Oil to pass on the costs of cleaning up their petroleum products to the people of New Brunswick, as there was a 36-cent increase in refinery margins in New Brunswick between 2019 and 2022.

Kevin Arseneau

WHEREAS New Brunswickers are facing financial challenges due to the rising costs of gasoline, which are affecting their daily lives, commuting, and overall cost of living;

WHEREAS the Parliamentary Budget Officer estimated that the average New Brunswick household is expected to pay at least $501 more on gas per year;

WHEREAS the Higgs government authorized a new tax to be added to regulated fuel prices to force consumers to pay for Irving Oil’s additional costs in complying with the federal clean fuel regulations;

WHEREAS the Higgs government gas tax has added as much as seven cents for a regular unleaded litre of gasoline since its introduction on July 1, 2023, making New Brunswick’s gasoline among the most expensive in Canada;

WHEREAS there was no need for the Higgs government to make it legally possible for Irving Oil to pass the costs for cleaning up their petroleum products to New Brunswickers since there was a 36-cent increase in refinery margins in New Brunswick between 2019 and 2022;

WHEREAS the Energy and Utilities Board plans to review the Higgs government’s gas tax formula after six months of its implementation;

WHEREAS there is no way for customers who have been paying the Higgs government gas tax to get their money back if, after its review, the Energy and Utilities Board finds that the tax was too high or unnecessary; BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly urge the government to immediately eliminate the Higgs government’s tax on gasoline prices.