Quebec Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Energy Pierre Fitzgibbon believes that gasoline taxes should be raised.
He made the statement while announcing that his government would put an end to the floor price on fuel in order to reduce its cost at the pump.
Asked by a reporter why his government wasn’t lowering gasoline taxes, Fitzgibbon replied: “Lowering fuel taxes? I think we should raise them.”
At a news briefing, Fitzgibbon indicated that he intended to put an end to the floor price.
He also wants to introduce a gasoline price transparency system that would require service stations to transmit their price changes to the energy board on a daily basis. The board would then disseminate these prices to keep consumers better informed.
However, the minister rejected the idea of imposing a price ceiling on gasoline, saying it was not the government’s role to do so.
Notices from the energy board have shown that fuel prices are higher in certain regions of Quebec, including the Quebec City and Chaudière-Appalaches.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 16, 2024.