At his address to the Rural Municipalities Association (RMA) on Monday, Premier Jason Kenney announced a pause to the provincial fuel tax, and a rebate for Albertans.

He said Alberta is taking real actions to reduce the cost of living. This is at a time when fuel is at 1.67 cents per litre.

He said as inflation goes up so do food costs, and supply chain problems.

“These are real issues, bread, and butter issues that affect people in all of our communities,” said Kenney. “And that's why the Alberta Government, unlike any in Canada, is taking real action immediately to address the cost of living. That is why on April the 1st, Alberta is scrapping its provincial fuel tax saving $0.13 on a litre.”

The province is also providing a $150 rebate on utility bills to counter the high cost of electricity experienced by many Albertans over the winter months.

He remarked that the federal government plans to raise the Federal carbon tax rate on the same date.

“They are actually trying to make energy less affordable friends, if some good can come out of this crazy policy, it will wake up central Canadians to what we westerners have been saying for years. And hopefully, that will be reflected... at a Federal ballot box sometime,” said Kenney.

He said the country is experiencing a moral issue.

“Canada sends billions of dollars of foreign aid for food security for the poorest of the poor around the world. Meanwhile, policies like the carbon tax and the inability to get pipelines built are driving up input costs, which will increase food inflation to a point where people around the world will not be able to afford food,” said Kenney. “This is not just an Alberta economic issue. This is a global moral issue.”