Fellows, G. KentCook, Jane2023-01-242023-01-242022Cook, J. (2022) Gasoline Pricing in Alberta: Contributing Factors and an Investigation of Policy Alternatives (Unpublished master's project). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.http://hdl.handle.net/1880/115727Gasoline prices in Canada have risen an alarming 57%1 on average since January 2021; Calgary and Edmonton have both faced gasoline price increases of just over 60%2. These increased costs in addition to overall inflation are creating a major financial burden for many Albertans, particularly lower income Albertans. The rise in gasoline prices is primarily due to the rise in the price of crude oil. The price of crude oil has skyrocketed due to Russia’s war in Ukraine, pent up demand from the COVID-19 pandemic and lower than normal inventory levels (USEIA 2022c). The price of gasoline includes not only the cost of crude oil but also of refining it into gasoline, taxes on gasoline and the cost of selling gasoline to consumers. Many provinces in Canada and countries in the world are providing relief to consumers through temporarily lowering or cancelling gasoline excise taxes. Effective April 1, 2022 Alberta temporarily stopped collecting its $0.13/L gasoline excise tax estimated to cost taxpayers $1.3B over three months (Black 2022). Other policy alternatives include letting market forces occur and not doing anything to mitigate high gasoline prices, providing subsidies to vehicle registrants, providing subsidies to low income households and regulating the price of gasoline.enreport