The Official Opposition NDP is calling on the Saskatchewan government to roll out a provincial gas price relief program to assist families currently struggling with the rising cost at the pump.
Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon is also linking the soaring gas prices to the events in Ukraine.
“These are extraordinary circumstances and the current increase at the pump is directly tied to the war in Ukraine and sanctions on the Russian government. These sanctions are crucial to continuing the pressure on Putin’s regime but we must ensure already-stretched Saskatchewan families are protected where possible.”
The opposition notes that the province budgeted for revenue from West Texas Intermediate at $54.33. However, the WTI is at $115.83. The NDP foresees extra provincial revenue from natural resources, but adds these increased revenues have not made it down to working families.
The opposition is calling for the government to look at fuel cost reductions, including temporarily bypassing the fuel tax to ease the impact of high fuel prices and protect families from the related rising costs of food, clothes, and other basic necessities.
Wotherspoon concludes that,“Temporary measures like these will offer families some relief as we anticipate gas prices to continue to increase as the economic sanctions against Russia take effect.”