Tax protest planned
On April 1 a group of Drayton Valley and area residents are planning to come together for a peaceful protest against the carbon tax.
Kelsey Bennett, a spokesperson for a group putting on the event, says the rally is part of a larger, nationwide movement to protest carbon tax across the country. She says some people considered attending rallies in other communities, but in the end they decided they wanted to host something here.
“We want to be close to home. We love our community and want to stand together with them,” says Bennett. She says it was important that they make the event accessible for those who may not be able to travel to other rallies as their voices should be heard as well.
The rally is set to take place starting at 9 a.m. in front of the MLA’s office at 5136 B 52 Avenue in Drayton Valley. The morning activities will remain local and Bennett says there will be a speaker at the event as well.
As part of the protest, participants are asked to bring a non-perishable item for the Food Bank with them. Bennett says the number of people using the Food Bank has increased as more and more working families have to rely on additional help to make ends meet.
After lunch, those who are able to or want to are invited to head to the rally being hosted out at the junction of Highway 22 and Highway 16. However, there will still be volunteers remaining in town for those who wish to stay in the community for the protest.
Bennett says the group who has put the rally together are concerned about how the higher costs will affect residents. She says while the Federal Government says the Carbon Tax Rebate will pay more out more than the government takes in carbon taxes, event organizers believe that’s not the case. Small businesses will be significantly affected, given the costs to heat a building, costs to bring products in, and the industry carbon tax.
Bennett says the group has real concerns about how some families are going to be able to survive as the carbon tax continues to grow over the next several years under the federal government’s long-term climate strategy.
“There are people who have to choose between purchasing basic necessities and paying their bills,” says Bennett.
The annual increase of the Federal Carbon Tax is slated to come into effect on April 1. The government has committed to raising the carbon tax each year until 2030 to help incentivize investment into greener technologies. This year will see an increase of 23 percent, which equates to about three cents a litre on the price of gas.
The fact that the carbon tax raise falls on the same day the province plans to fully reinstate their fuel tax only adds to the problem, says Bennett.
The most recent update from the Alberta Government shows the fuel tax that Albertans are currently paying, which is $0.09 per litre, will be increasing by four cents to $0.13 per litre. This return to the regular tax rate will be coming into effect on April 1, the first day of the fiscal year for the province.
This increase comes after it was paused by the provincial government in 2023. As of January 1, 2024, the province began charging for taxes at the pump again, bringing it up to the current rate of $0.09 per litre.
The Alberta Government bases the tax rate for fuel on a scale in line with the price of WTI Crude prices per barrel. If the price exceeds $100 per barrel, there is no provincial tax on fuel. However, if the price is lower than $80 per barrel, the full tax is reinstated.
According to the Oil Price Charts at www.oilprice.com, WTI Crude has fluctuated between $67 and just over $90 per barrel in the past year.
Bennett says the organizers understand that the rally may not have any effect on government policy, but that’s not the point. Instead, the main reasoning behind the rally is to exercise their right to disagree with government policy on carbon taxation and to draw attention to the matter.
The rally organizers want to include anyone who is interested in attending. Bennett says everyone is welcome regardless of their political ideology, financial situation in life, or whether they are only working in Drayton at the time of the rally.
“This is a peaceful protest where we can stand in unity to express our concerns” she says.
Bennett says the group of people who have come together to organize the event are passionate about the community and want to see all businesses and residents succeed.
She says the group has several community leaders who have been involved in protests in the past, and Bennett says the organizers are extremely grateful for their contributions. She says the original people who first took a stance against government policy really paved the way for others to do the same.
Her hope is that the next generation will step up and take over, allowing the older generation to take a well-deserved break.
“We are encouraging everyone to come, even if they can only stay for a few minutes or their lunch break,” she says.
Amanda Jeffery, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Drayton Valley and District Free Press
