Maritimes can expect big relief at the pump next week, but how long will it last?

Maritimers can expect relief at the pump starting next week, as the consumer carbon price is scheduled to be removed on April 1. 

Maritimers can expect relief at the pump starting next week, as the consumer carbon price is scheduled to be removed on April 1.

This will result in double-digit reductions in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

“It’ll make a big difference on me. Being a health-care provider working in the community, I have to drive a lot in the community,” said Jaideep Singh, who was filling up his vehicle on Friday.

“It’ll make a big difference on my budget as well.’

April 1 is also when Nova Scotia will see its harmonized sales tax cut by one per cent.

But gas price analyst Dan McTeague is warning drivers that the discount may be short-lived.

“The second carbon tax, the clean fuel standard, which is not being touched, is about eight cents a litre. And that’s nine cents for diesel, seven cents for gasoline,” said McTeague, who is president of Canadians for Affordable Energy.

“You don’t see that, and yet you’re paying for it, and that’s not going to be suspended.”