Gas prices have soared to historic highs across Nova Scotia, breaking the previous record set in 2012.

Regular unleaded in the Halifax region is now selling for 145.6 cents per litre, a jump of 2.3 cents per litre from last week.

Gas prices across other parts of Nova Scotia also rose overnight. In Cape Breton it will cost at least 147.5 cents per litre to fill up.

The pain at the pump is prompting debate about the tax that Nova Scotians pay on their vehicle fuel.

Opposition leader Jamie Baillie is calling on the Liberal government to reduce the motive fuel tax by the amount of HST collected on the tax — about four cents per litre.

Premier Stephen McNeil says he will try to convince the federal government to remove Nova Scotia's portion of the HST that is charged on top of the tax that drivers pay for gas.