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Alberta UCP announces cost of living measures as provincial inflation rate rises

EDMONTON — Alberta's United Conservative government has announced two measures to help curb an increasing cost of living.

The province says will keep a 13-cent provincial excise tax on gasoline in place for three more months after it first came into effect in April.

The fuel tax relief program is to be reviewed in September.

The province said in a second news release it will also provide homes, farms and small businesses with $50 monthly credits for electricity bills in July, August and September.

The rebate will be applied to the bills automatically.

The announcements were made after Statistics Canada reported the province's annual rate of inflation increased to 7.1 per cent last month from 6.3 per cent in April, largely due to higher energy costs.

The province said it wants to provide the targeted support to help Albertans deal with the rising cost of living.

"These rebates, combined with the fuel tax exemption, will help the large majority of Alberta households pay their bills while we make the long-term changes needed to make energy more affordable in the years ahead," said Dale Nally, associate minister of natural gas and electricity.

"Countless Albertans have told us how much the (fuel tax) program has helped them during these challenging economic times," said Minister of Finance Jason Nixon

"With the program’s extension, Alberta’s government is continuing to support Albertans and their ability to afford everyday goods."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2022.

The Canadian Press

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