REGINA - The opposition New Democrats are voicing support for the Saskatchewan Trucking Association call to end the road tax.
STA issued a news release this week calling on the province to scrap the 12 cent a litre tax on fuel used in truck trailer refrigeration units, arguing the cost is unfair as these units are not used to drive on public roads. They also say it adds on an additional $24,000 in cost annually to fuel.
At the legislature on Wednesday, NDP Economy and Jobs Critic Aleana Young spoke in favour of STA’s position.
Young said the cost the living “remains the major concern for people in the province,” and that the province “should be doing everything we can to make food more affordable.”
“This is an eminently reasonable call by the STA focused on what we know and what the trucking industry knows is the leading concern for people. It's putting food on the table, it's being able to buy groceries. I can't think of a good reason why the province wouldn't act on this very reasonable call, again, only targeted at refrigerated trucks.”
As for how this could address rising grocery prices in stores, Young pointed to her business background.
“I'm a small business owner, I know what transportation does to the cost of goods and services that move into this province. It's, again, whether it's following a call like the STA has made that is targeted, that is focused at lowering grocery prices, that will have a disproportionate impact on a province like Saskatchewan that is so dependent on transport. I can't think of a single good reason why you wouldn't act on something that would seem to make food more affordable across this province.”
With files from Tanner Wallace-Scribner
