The province is reiterating its stance against the federal government’s clean fuel regulations as the clock ticks down to Saturday when the changes come into effect. It may be a few days before the actual price change reaches the pumps.

The province says the regulations will cause “economic harm” not to just Newfoundland and Labrador, but all of Atlantic Canada.

Finance Minister Siobhan Coady stresses that they are “very disappointed” in the federal government for continuing with the regulations despite repeated calls over the years for them not to do so.

Coady points to information from the Parliamentary Budget Officer indicating that the province could see fuel price increases of up to 17 cents. That, she believes, “says it all.”

She says they still have lots of questions about how much prices will increase and when it will come through.

Energy Minister Andrew Parsons points to the impact the new regulations will have on the importation of goods into the province, particularly via Marine Atlantic.

He says companies like North Atlantic and Irving have been echoing their concerns to the feds.

He calls the notion that those companies will absorb the costs and not pass them along to customers “absolutely ridiculous,” noting that “not for a second is business going to do that.”