In its latest budget, the provincial government said the levy will be applied as early as January 2025, and will be added onto vehicle owners’ registration costs. (The Logic)

Talking point: “EVs tend to be heavier than similar internal combustion vehicles and cause more wear and tear on provincial roadways while their owners pay no fuel tax,” Finance Minister Nate Horner’s budget, released Thursday, stated. The tax runs counter to other EV mandates—like the federal government’s Electric Vehicle Availability Standard—that aim to encourage electric-vehicle adoption. It comes as Alberta’s oil and gas royalties continue to make up about a quarter of the province’s total revenue, even as it shows signs of dwindling. Non-renewable energy revenue is estimated to reach $17.3 billion for 2024-25, down from $25.2 billion in 2022-23, when its share of oil and gas revenue peaked at 33 per cent.