As Alberta motorists have surely noticed by now, the price of gasoline jumped seven cents per litre on Monday, the combined effect of two separate tax increases.

That’s on top of last week’s increases, as various market forces drove up the cost of gasoline by as much as 10 cents per litre. That’s a lot for drivers to absorb.

The question, then, is how well-positioned Alberta households are to cope with these additional costs. It seems the Alberta government is not quite sure. Much of that rests on where a finger of blame can be pointed — and whether political points can be scored.

A finger can definitely be pointed in Ottawa’s direction. Despite tacitly acknowledging through the home heating oil exemption that the carbon tax imposes financial hardship, they pressed ahead with the planned April 1 rate increase. That represents about three cents of the increase we were saddled with this week.

Alberta’s premier was among those calling on the prime minister to reconsider. Danielle Smith........

© Calgary Herald