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The Gas Tax Holiday Ends in 24 Days — Here's the Real Math on What You'll Save

  Published August 14, 2026 Ottawa's fuel excise tax suspension shuts off September 7. Here's what it's actually been worth at the pump, what changes the next morning, and who should plan a fill-up before Labour Day. The Countdown The federal fuel excise tax returns to full rate on September 8, 2026 — that's 24 days from today. Prices reset to their pre-April 20 rate the moment the clock hits midnight. If you've noticed gas feeling a little less painful since spring, that wasn't your imagination. On April 20, 2026, Ottawa suspended the federal fuel excise tax — 10 cents a litre off gasoline, 4 cents off diesel — as Middle East oil-supply disruptions pushed pump prices toward $2 a litre in some cities. The suspension, passed as part of Bill C-30, has been running for nearly four months. It ends September 7, inclusive. On September 8, the tax comes right back. What the holiday actually saved you The headline number — 10 cents a litre on gas — undersells it sligh...

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Israeli Forces Seize Crucial Rafah Border Crossing in Gaza

 

Israeli ground forces have seized control of the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, effectively cutting off a vital route for humanitarian aid and potential sanctuary for civilians. The crossing has been a crucial entry point for supplies into the besieged enclave.

The Israeli 401st Brigade entered the Rafah crossing on Tuesday morning, a day after the Palestinian group governing Gaza said it accepted an Egyptian-Qatari mediated ceasefire proposal. However, Israel insisted that the deal did not meet its core demands. The seizure of the Rafah crossing comes as prospects for a ceasefire deal with Hamas hang in the balance.

The Rafah crossing is crucial for both aid and those able to flee into Egypt. Israeli leaders had long anticipated a military operation into the southern city, where some 1.4 million Palestinians, including more than 600,000 children, are sheltering. Despite warnings from the United Nations, United States, the European Union, and international humanitarian organizations that an attack would be catastrophic, Israel moved forward with its offensive.

Footage released by the Israeli military showed a tank entering the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing. Details of the video matched known features of the crossing, and Israeli flags were seen flying from tanks that seized the area. The military said its special forces were scanning the area and had been operating since Monday night in eastern Rafah. Evacuations were carried out, with Palestinians instructed to move towards al-Mawasi on the Mediterranean Sea coast, where a humanitarian zone with field hospitals, tents, and medical supplies had been set up. However, the Israeli military intensified its bombardment of the city, resulting in casualties.

As the situation unfolds, the seizure of the Rafah crossing puts ceasefire talks on a knife’s edge. The international community closely watches developments in the region, hoping for a resolution that will spare civilian lives and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, with Israel’s insistence on achieving its aims and Hamas’s resistance, the path to peace remains uncertain.


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