The provincial government isn’t considering removing the tax on gas, like Alberta has done.
At Cabinet this afternoon, Finance Minister, Allan MacMaster said they’re focused on helping Nova Scotians on the tightest budgets.
“Many have called for us to pull the taxes off fuel,” MacMaster said during his media availability. “We have to ensure that we have taxation so that we have money that will allow us to redistribute the wealth to those who are most in need”
He also said the government can’t protect Nova Scotians from high inflation rates.
“This is a worldwide problem. It is affecting everyone. It’s not driven by government taxation, it’s driven by the price of oil. When inflation hits, there’s no way the government can shield everybody from every increase that inflation is causing.”
MacMaster did say there’s more support coming soon for fixed and low-income Nova Scotians, but he wouldn’t say when.
When pressed about how soon low-income Nova Scotians would see government assistance, MacMaster pointed out that in March the provincial government announced $13 million to support low-income Nova Scotians, with $1.2 million of that earmarked for food banks.
That ended up being a one-time $150 payout for people enrolled in the Heating Rebate Assistance Program, and a one-time $150 payment for people on income assistance.
The finance minister reiterated several times during cabinet that the government is focused on helping Nova Scotians who need it most and that low-income Nova Scotians should see government relief “soon.”
“There are people out there who don’t have any room for the inflation that they’re seeing in their budgets,” MacMaster said.
MasMaster pointed out the government isn’t seeing any increase in tax revenue, despite the high cost of fuel. While people pay more HST on fuel, he said, the high prices are leaving less income to spend on other taxable items.
