Albertans, we’re out of luck.

You see, they have a law.

That’s what the government of Premier Danielle Smith tells us.

They’ve got a law and it’s got some snazzy arithmetic figured out.

They’ve got a formula and the formula tells Smith to send Albertans the following message.

You have to endure the sticker shock at the gas pumps until at least Canada Day. July 1.

If you’ve been sufficiently hammered at the gas pump by that time, Smith could take off some or maybe all of the 13-cent-a-litre Alberta tax when you fuel up.

Until then, suck it up Buttercup!

Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features.

There was an error, please provide a valid email address.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Noon News Roundup will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

You got an income tax cut, what are you complaining about?

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation tried to reason with Smith since those folks are not big fans of taxes. Mention taxes to them and they might break out in a rash.

The NDP, even the NDP who brought in a stupid carbon tax when Rachel Notley was premier, questioned Smith.

One of those in the NDP ranks threw out a shot in the form of a question.

“Would it help if the separatists asked for it?”

It would. I hear from pretty good sources they would give us relief from taxes at the gas pump right about now.

Nate Horner, Smith’s budget boss, says the plan they have in place works for the province’s books and works for Alberta.

It is a very defensible plan.

“We don’t need to act reactively,” says Horner.

Drop by the local gas station and sell that script.

Of course, there are those readers who have deep enough pockets they don’t care about something as insignificant to them as a tax break at the gas pump.

A dollar here, a dollar there? Who cares?

With gas prices spiking, Canadians may stop buying. Analysts say it would be a good thing

Bell: Danielle Smith loses, Nenshi becomes premier in poll showcased by Liberal MP

Advertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});

But not everyone is living that charmed life. Many people appreciate any savings they can get.

Smith tells us she wants to stand up for these folks and not just the well-heeled crowd.

Newshounds pitch a couple or three questions Horner’s way.

Horner says giving a tax break would be “short-sighted” and would “take away the defensibility” of the fuel tax relief program.

Smith’s budget boss speaks of the financial year just beginning and how there is uncertainty and how “we will have to work together through this.”

Meanwhile, look at Prime Minister Mark Carney.

He’s been dancing around giving us a tax break on gas, serving us his irritating word salads, his empty calorie nothings, committing to diddly squat.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre recently asked Carney when he would stop ripping off people at the pump.

Carney has had to give some on this file.

The Ottawa Liberals announced starting April 20 they will not charge us their 10 cents per litre fuel tax until Labour Day. They’re also temporarily suspending their tax on fuel for planes.

Bell: Danielle Smith loses, Nenshi becomes premier in poll showcased by Liberal MP Columnists

Bell: Danielle Smith loses, Nenshi becomes premier in poll showcased by Liberal MP

Assailant who attacked Calgary radio host facing potential immigration consequences, lawyer tells court Crime

Assailant who attacked Calgary radio host facing potential immigration consequences, lawyer tells court

Advertisement 2Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});

RCMP investigate stabbing at CrossIron Mills mall parking lot News

RCMP investigate stabbing at CrossIron Mills mall parking lot

Massive indoor bike park and sports facility planned on border of southeast Calgary News

Massive indoor bike park and sports facility planned on border of southeast Calgary

Council members throw out request from city bosses to merge black, blue and green bin fees Local News

Council members throw out request from city bosses to merge black, blue and green bin fees

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation thought it was just plain weird they were seeing the gas tax cut in Ottawa before they saw it from Smith.

Poilievre said Carney’s cut was not good enough and Carney’s cut was better than Smith’s big far zero.

The federal Conservative leader offers up the full meal deal.

If he was running the show, Poilievre says he would scrap all federal gas taxes for the rest of the year.

The fuel excise tax, the GST, the fuel standards tax. That’s a savings of 25 cents a litre.

Ottawa sure loves its taxes.

The Conservatives point out how Canadians pay more for gas than Americans.

John Barlow, a Conservative MP from Alberta, says Carney’s move amounts to chump change.

Ottawa is raking in the dough from high oil prices. So is the Smith government.

Poilievre insists people should get a real taste of that windfall moolah.

On this day, Poilievre is defiant.

Carney now has a majority of the MPs in parliament on his side, with Conservatives jumping ship to the Liberals helping the prime minister get to that finish line.

Poilievre speaks of “dirty backroom deals against the interests of the people with the help of politicians who betrayed their voters and citizens.”

Poilievre asks about the pipeline to the west coast that is not even on the drawing board.

The Conservative leader points to people’s household debt, housing costs, sky-high grocery prices.

“We will fight for you and I will continue to lead that fight in the next election. At the next general election Canadians will take back control and we will rebuild the country we once knew.”

I don’t see Poilievre reaching for a white flag.

© Calgary Herald