Long lines at gas stations ahead of tax hike

Gas pumpsacross Newfoundland and Labrador were hit with spectacular lineups on Wednesday as drivers scurriedto avoid a looming tax hike.

Consumers across the province rushed to fill up before a price change of 18.65cents takes effect on Thursday.

That includes a 16.5 cent a litre increase in the gas tax plus an additional 2.15 cents in HST.

The size of the Public Utilities Board`sactual hike, which will be influenced by any other pricing changes, will take effect at midnight.

If there are no other pricing changes Thursday,the maximum price of gas on the Avalon Peninsula will jump from $1.14 perlitre to nearly $1.33perlitre.

The new gas taxwas one part of the array of tax increases contained in April's badnews provincial budget.