(Image Credit: File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Increased costs

NDP and Taxpayers’ Federation call for cuts to fuel taxes

Mar 17, 2026 | 1:18 PM

A grain farmer in the Melfort area is hoping a recent surge in fuel prices won’t last long.

 Scott Hermus, who is also a Director with the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), told paNOW we have not seen the full blown impact yet.

“It’s definitely a worry because we can only store so much fuel on our farm,” he said.

The surge in fuel prices has been attributed in part to the war in the Middle East and the blockage of some key shipping routes.

Noting farmers have the opportunity to speculate a price, and buy futures, Hermus said he last heard it was a $1.30 which is about .90 more than it was this time last year.

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Hermus who also confirmed spending a couple hundred thousand dollars last year on fuel, said there is not much they can cut out.

With the provincial budget being announced on Wednesday, Hermus said the fuel tax is a nuisance, and added pushing the cash advance program to $350,000 would help so farmers can hold onto their grain longer and get a better price.

Meanwhile the Saskatchewan NDP are calling for emergency relief at the pumps and leader Carla Beck stated some of the the provincial government’s fiscal capacity should be used to cut desperate drivers a break as they face soaring gas prices by lowering — or completely eliminating — the gas tax temporarily until things return to normal. 

“Saskatchewan people can’t take this on top of the pile of costs Scott Moe has already dumped on them to cover for his fiscal disaster,” said Carla Beck, Saskatchewan NDP Leader. “The Sask. Party is taxing food and children’s clothing — and they’re piling on massive increases for power. 

Beck said entirely removing the gas tax would save drivers 15 cents per litre for the time being.  

“It’s some relief; it would be the first sign in a very long time that Scott Moe gives any indication that he cares about Saskatchewan people, who report the highest financial anxiety in all of Canada,” Beck said.  

The Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation is calling on both the federal and provincial governments to scrap all carbon taxes and cut gas taxes to ease the pain of high gas prices.

“Drivers are feeling the pain of high gas prices and taxes are making things more expensive,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director. “Canadians even pay taxes on top of taxes when they fuel up.

 “Politicians can make life easier for taxpayers by cutting gas taxes.”

The CTF stated at current gas prices, total taxes in some cities cost up to 65 cents per litre of gas.

In response to the NDP, a statement from the provincial government explained 100 per cent of the Saskatchewan Fuel Tax funds provincial highways and related infrastructure.

“While the NDP continues to call for more spending, they also continue to demand that the government cuts stable, predictable sources of revenue. It would be reckless to cut the revenue that helps to ensure people are safe on our roads and allows for transportation of the exports our economy relies on, but this is what we have come to expect from the NDP,” the province said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell