The consumer carbon tax is gone. Here’s the price at the pump in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotians were pleasantly surprised on Tuesday as the consumer carbon tax came to an end, providing some much-needed relief at the gas pumps. In the Halifax area, the price of regular gasoline dropped by 17.4 cents to 146.5 per litre, while the price of diesel saw a significant decrease of 22.1 cents to 161.2 per litre.
It’s important to note that the price of gas may vary slightly depending on your location within the province. The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board provides a helpful zone map to determine the specific prices in different areas.
In addition to the reduction in fuel prices, Nova Scotians also saw a decrease in the province’s Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) from 15 percent to 14 percent on the same day. This double relief at the pumps was a welcome change for consumers.
The decision to cancel the carbon tax was made by Prime Minister Mark Carney on his first day in office last month. He signed a directive to remove the fuel charge, which took effect on April 1. The carbon tax had been added to the sale price of carbon-emitting products, with a levy of 17.6 cents per litre for gasoline.
Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau initially implemented the carbon pricing scheme back in 2019. However, as Canadians faced rising inflation in the following years, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s promise to “axe the tax” gained popularity among voters. Carney, who had previously supported carbon pricing, acknowledged that the current policy had become too divisive and pledged to eliminate it during his bid for the Liberal leadership.
The removal of the deeply unpopular carbon tax has been met with relief and anticipation by consumers. The adjustment in fuel prices and HST rates are expected to make a noticeable difference in the wallets of Nova Scotians. Gareth Hampshire investigated the impact of this change and highlighted the positive effects it will have on the province.
