The Community
Press Telling Your Story
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Volume 114, Issue 39
$1 Including GST
Gas prices drop with new credit Leslie Cholowsky Editor
So far 2022 has brought Albertans some unwelcome changes at the gas pumps. From a province-wide average of $1.33 per litre at the start of the year, the first week of March saw gas prices peak at just under $1.70 per litre, then level off to around $1.65. Adding to that, the Federal Carbon tax was set to increase April 1, adding a further 2.2 cents per litre. In total, effective April 1, 11 cents of every litre of gasoline sold represents the federal carbon tax. As promised, the Alberta government responded to the rising gas prices and pending carbon tax increase by putting into play a plan to stop collecting the provincial gas tax April 1, lowering prices by 13 cents per litre, realizing a net drop of just over 10 cents per litre at the pumps.
In addition, Premier Jason Kenney announced this Monday, that it would be introducing the following motion into legislature: “Be it resolved that the Legislative Assembly call on the Government of Canada to stop its planned April 1, 2022 increase of the carbon tax to $50 per tonne, and further plan to quadruple the carbon tax to $170 a tonne, given that Canadian families are struggling with the highest inflation in 30 years.” The steep upswing in gas prices has been blamed on Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, which began Feb. 24. Calls to boycott the purchase of Russia-produced oil together with post-pandemic increased demand balanced against a lower than normal supply of oil for a surge in prices. Oil prices reached highs not seen since 2008 in recent weeks. Alberta’s Economic Dashboard
reports, “Western Canada Select (WCS), the price obtained for many Alberta producers of oil, averaged US $79.10 a barrel in February 2022, 75.3 per cent higher than it was a year earlier.” As announced in early March, Kenney said the credit will be tied to the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), on a sliding scale, where if prices slide to $90 or above per barrel, there will be no fuel tax, but if it drops below $80 per barrel, the full tax will again apply. It will be reset on a quarterly basis and applied if current pricing continues. As of Monday, April 4, WTI was trading above $103. The Province estimates that the gas tax rebate will save Albertans about $1.3 billion over the year, if oil prices stay high. The fuel tax normally applies to gasoline and diesel at 13 cents a litre, and marked gas and diesel at a rate of four cents per litre.
Killam Fire Department holds annual awards night to recognize and honour volunteer firefighters Leslie Cholowsky Editor
The Killam Fire Department traditionally holds an awards ceremony and dinner each year to honour its volunteer firefighters, but for the past two years, has been unable to hold the event due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This past Friday, April 1, Killam Chief Joe Knievel was finally able to schedule the event, at the Killam Legion. During the evening, Knievel distributed a number of years of service awards. As well, he announced the promotion of 10-year veteran Trevor Levitt to Captain. Knievel made a special presentation to Flagstaff Emergency Services Coordinator and former
Flagstaff Fire Chief Kim Cannady, to acknowledge his contributions to the Killam Fire Department and long service as a 36year volunteer firefighter, by making Cannady an honourary member of the Killam Department. Knievel also introduced Derek Homme, Flagstaff Regional Emergency Services Society (FRESS) Regional Manager and Fire Chief. Knievel made a fun presentation to Homme during the evening, presenting him with a deputy’s star. Firefighters receiving awards were as follows. Ten-year service pins: Troy Zieffle (as of 2020), Ian Strachan (as of 2021) and Trevor Levitt. Five year service pins: Cary Castagna (as of 2021) and Roger Obrigewitch. See FIREFIGHTERS P29
KIM CANNADY PHOTO
The Killam Fire Department held its annual volunteer firefighter appreciation night this past Friday, April 1, at the Killam Legion, where various firefighters also received awards for service. Above: back row, from left: Duncan Thompson, Jim Clark, Cary Castagna, Ian Strachan, Dylan Eskra, and Deputy Chief Rick Krys. Front row: Fire Chief Joe Knievel, Trevor Levitt, new firefighter Kyla Baranowski, and Troy Zieffle