Mounties advise of another traffic disruption

Cochrane Mounties have alerted motorists that they should use caution if they are travelling on Highway 1, west of Cochrane.

"There may be ongoing traffic delays throughout the day. RCMP will provide updates as needed and thank the public for their cooperation," RCMP stated in a brief news release on Tuesday morning. 

Yesterday, protestors gathered across Canada, and in Alberta to voice their opposition to the federal government's hiking of the carbon tax. Yesterday, similar protests took place west of Cochrane, with Mounties alerting motorists to potential delays.

On April 1, many Airdrie residents and Albertans woke up to yet another gas hike at the pumps. The hike was attributed to the provincial government fully reinstating the province-wide fuel tax, as well as federal carbon prices being raised on the same day.

Many gas stations in Airdrie are reporting $1.62 per litre for regular gas. The latest gas hike represents an estimated added 8 cents per litre for regular gas. 

The rise in gas prices comes days after gas stations in Airdrie and the surrounding areas had already hiked prices before the two taxes came into effect. Last Tuesday, gas prices rose several cents to approximately $1.54 per litre of regular gas.

Both the province and the federal government have been criticized for their respective announcements. Last week, the Alberta NDP called on the ruling UCP government to 'cancel the planned hike in fuel taxes.'

"Considering the ongoing affordability crisis, and huge jump at the gas pumps already this week, Danielle Smith needs to do the right thing and cancel her gas tax hike,” said Parmeet Singh Boparai, Alberta NDP Critic for Consumer Protection.

The Canadian Tax Payers Federation (CTF) called the two taxes a, 'double whammy tax hike'.

"It’s disappointing to see this fuel tax hike coming from both Ottawa and Edmonton," Canadian Taxpayers Federation Alberta Director, Kris Sims said. "It’s pretty puzzling to see the NDP government in Manitoba and the Liberal government in Newfoundland and Labrador providing fuel tax relief for drivers, while the UCP government is cranking its fuel tax back up to full throttle here at home in Alberta."

According to the CTF, the federal carbon tax will cost about $12 extra to fill up a minivan and about $18 extra to fill up a pickup truck.

"Truckers filling up their big rigs with diesel will pay about $200 extra due to the carbon tax."

The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) has estimated that the national average for gas prices Canada-wide as of Tuesday is an estimated $1.60 per litre. 

Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com. You can also message and follow us on Twitter: @AIR1061FM

DiscoverAirdrie encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the DiscoverAirdrie app. For breaking news, weather and contest alerts click here.