Mark Carney’s announcement that there would be a temporary suspension of the fuel excise tax on gas and diesel is a step in the right direction, the province’s truckers say.

But BC Trucking Association president and CEO Dave Earle says this step doesn’t go far enough.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!

“Any news on this front is good news. I mean, let’s be clear with that. Any reduction is a good reduction,” he told 1130 NewsRadio.

“But neither you nor I nor anybody is going to really see this in a tangible and meaningful way. That’s just because of how volatile prices have been and the environment that we find ourselves in.”

Earle says price volatility will continue, and businesses will be left passing costs along to consumers.

“There is no secret pot of money. The government doesn’t have one. Businesses don’t have one. I don’t have one. I don’t think anybody has one.”

Earle estimates that costs have risen roughly 45 per cent since the fall.

While the tax pause may save a few cents per litre, he says that only translates into modest per-trip savings, compared to total operating costs.

Lasting relief depends more on stabilizing global conditions than domestic tax changes, Earle says.

The Liberal government announced Tuesday that the fuel excise tax on gas and diesel will be suspended beginning April 20 until Labour Day.

This move comes as gas prices have surged in Canada and worldwide in recent months as the conflict in the Middle East has constrained global oil shipments.

Carney says the break is expected to save Canadians 10 cents per litre on regular gasoline and four cents per litre of diesel.

— With files from Raynaldo Suarez and The Canadian Press.