Gas Price Difference Between BC and Alberta Questioned

The District of Sicamous is calling on the BC government to regulate fuel costs in BC, so they are more in line with the costs across Canada.

Sicamous Mayor Terry Rysz says in a letter sent to the City of Armstrong and other communities, his council is concerned tourism dependent regions like the Okanagan and Shuswap, are being negatively impacted by higher gas prices.

He says when you compare all the taxes, the difference between BC and Alberta is only a quarter of a cent per litre, but the average retail price in Alberta is 94 cents a litre, and $1.24 in BC.

“The District of Sicamous has researched the cost of fuel across Canada, finding when combined, the excise taxes ($0.10 per litre), the provincial taxes ($0.13-$0.15 per litre), and the carbon taxes ($0.0778 per litre and $0.0673 per litre respectively), the difference between BC and Alberta is ONLY approx. $0.025/litre; AND WHEAREAS at the pump the average retail fuel cost in BC is $1.24/litre. The average retail fuel cost in Alberta is $0.94/litre. That’s a difference of $0.30/litre,” says Rysz in council’s resolution.

The District is seeking support from other municipalities for its resolution on gas prices at the Southern Interior Local Government Association meeting at the end of April.

Council grants

Vernon to distribute over $50k in Council Discretionary Grants, $20K to the food bank

17h ago

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

Dec 13, 2025

Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

Dec 13, 2025

The resolution calls for SILGA to petition the province to regulate fuel costs in BC to be more in line with the fuel costs across Canada.

Armstrong council received the Sicamous letter for information at its meeting Monday, with Mayor Chris Pieper saying his council reps will consider supporting the resolution at the SILGA convention in late April.

“Gas prices in BC are so much higher than in Alberta and its a similar taxation structure, so why is gas in Sicamous 30 cents a litre more than in Alberta? We all see it when we travel, if you go to Calgary or Regina even. gas prices are a lot lower than BC, but why?” Pieper tells Beach Radio News.