Opposition Finance critic Tony Wakeham is accusing the premier of failing to protect Newfoundlanders and Labradorians from the rising cost of gas, diesel and home heating fuel.

Wakeham says comments from federal Finance Minister Steven Guilbeault suggest that Premier Andrew Furey had over a year to come up with a proposal that met the federal benchmark but delayed in negotiating with the federal government.

Wakeham is accusing Furey of failing to present a plan early enough to provide time to protect home heating fuel from the carbon tax.