NL

Gas, diesel prices up in N.L. as federal carbon tax takes effect

The Public Utilities Board has increased the maximum price of gas by 3.8 cents per litre. Much of the increase is due to the removal of the provincial carbon tax in exchange for the federal tax.

Gas is going up 3.8 cents per litre

A man stands at a gas pump pumping fuel into his truck.
The price of gasoline and diesel is up across Newfoundland and Labrador as a result of the new federal carbon tax coming into effect Saturday. (Garrett Barry/CBC)

Canada's new federal carbon tax is on the books as of Saturday, bringing up the price of gas and diesel in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Public Utilities Board increased the maximum price of gas Saturday by 3.8 cents per litre. Much of the increase is due to the removal of the provincial carbon tax in favour of the federal tax, sai dthe board in a press release.

The removal of the provincial tax means 11 cents per litre is coming off gasoline and diesel, but the federal carbon tax adds 14 cents per litre.

The change raises the maximum price of gasoline to around $1.66 per litre on the Avalon Peninsula. Prices range from $1.66 to $1.83 per litre across the rest of Newfoundland, and between $1.69 and $2.12 per litre in Labrador.

Diesel increased by 4.6 cents per litre. Prices for the fuel in Newfoundland now range from between $1.66 to $1.78 per litre, while customers in Labrador will pay between $1.73 and $2.41 per litre.

No other fuels are affected by Saturday's adjustment. The prices of home heating fuels will be adjusted at the next scheduled update, on Thursday. The carbon tax is expected to increase the price of those fuels by around 17 cents per litre, in addition to HST.

Federal clean fuel regulations also come into effect Saturday, but the PUB says any adjustment to the price of carbon will come next week.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alex Kennedy

Journalist

Alex Kennedy is a digital reporter with CBC Newfoundland and Labrador based in Corner Brook. He previously worked with CBC N.L. in St. John's, and has a particular interest in stories about sports and interesting people.