LAC LA BICHE - Not including the aquatic centre, Lac La Biche County spent $188,497.85 on federal fuel charges in 2024. The county reported they expect that number to increase by $37,000 in 2025 to $225,653.06.
Also called the carbon tax, federal fuel charges are collected by the federal government on natural gas, gasoline, and diesel, regardless of who purchases it. The tax rate is expected to continue to increase at an average annual rate of 12.366 per cent until 2030.
According to county administration, Lac La Biche residents, small businesses, and commercial customers paid a combined total of $1.5 million in federal fuel charges, and are estimated to spend $1.8 million on the tax in 2025. There are a reported 1,316 utility accounts in the Hamlet of Lac La Biche.
Ward 5 Coun. Charlyn Moore asked that administration’s report be shared with Rural Municipalities Association, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and members of parliament.
Mayor Paul Reutov said the report was good information to have.
“We always talk about the impact and so forth. Here you actually have a number you can attach. It's costing us $190,000 just in carbon tax, and we don't know where that money is going,” said Reutov.
According to the federal government, the carbon tax is revenue neutral because the money collected is redistributed in the form of tax credits.
A legal challenge to the tax by Manitoba, Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan was rejected by the Supreme Court of Canada in a March 2021 ruling.
