Saskatchewan doubles road-use charge for electric vehicles

Electric vehicle owners in Saskatchewan will soon be paying higher fees to help support road maintenance, and a number of other provincial fees are also being adjusted.

According to the Government of Saskatchewan, the growing number of electric vehicles on the province’s roads and highways are contributing to wear and tear, but the owners don’t pay the provincial fuel tax, which goes towards road maintenance.

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In the upcoming provincial budget, which is to be tabled next week, the annual road-use fee paid by electric vehicle owners will double from $150 to $300. This is “to better reflect the costs of road maintenance and ensure owners of electric vehicles contribute a more comparable amount to owners of traditional vehicles.”

The change will take effect on June 1.

The fees are collected by SGI when electric vehicles are registered.

SLGA wholesale fees changing to save retailers money

The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority is changing its markups on wholesale wine and non-alcoholic products, with the goal of saving retailers money.

Wines that are over 14.5 per cent alcohol by volume are currently charged a higher markup than wines with lower alcohol content, but starting on June 1, SLGA will start charging a single markup on all wine products up to 16 per cent alcohol by volume.

“As a result, wholesale prices of wines between 14.5 per cent and 16 per cent ABV will decrease,” the government explained in a news release.

“The change to the wine wholesale markup is expected to save retailers $226,000 in 2025-26.”

Similarly, the markup SLGA places on non-alcoholic products is moving to a standardized system to keep things consistent, which is expected to result in lower prices. That change is expected to save retailers about $13,000 in the fiscal year ahead.

In another change affecting SLGA, the provincial government said it has given the liquor and gaming authority the power to impose greater maximum penalties for violations of the provincial alcohol and gaming regulation act. While the previous maximum penalty was set at $10,000, the change will see that figure increase to $25,000.

“The increase will better align Saskatchewan with other jurisdictions and match the maximum penalty for alcohol-related sanctions with maximum penalties already in place for cannabis offences,” the government explained.

“As the increase to the maximum penalty is intended to incentivize compliance, no significant revenue impact is anticipated.”

Administrative fees rising in provincial parks

Administration fees related to cottages inside Saskatchewan’s provincial parks are going up, effective April 1. The fees relate to building permits, lease administration, and structures on shorelines.

The increase is expected to bring in $162,000 in additional revenue in the 2025-26 fiscal year.

The full list of changes can be found below:

(Government of Saskatchewan)