Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Chad Klassen

GAS PRICES

Local MLA calls public inquiry into B.C. gas prices a “sham”

Aug 30, 2019 | 9:04 AM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar says the public inquiry into provincial gas prices was a “sham.”

Milobar, who is the B.C. Liberal critic for environment and climate change, says the NDP government did not provide the necessary information like taxation policies to the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC).

“BCUC was not able to look at the government policy, the difference between Washington State government policy and B.C. government policy, the difference between Washington State taxation and the B.C. taxation. So it’s no surprise that there would be a missing gap,” said Milobar.

“If the premier had really wanted to get to the root of what was going on with our gas prices in British Columbia, we should’ve allowed government policy on the table, we should’ve allowed taxation on the table. The BCUC could’ve taken a fulsome look at the overall pricing structure within British Columbia.”

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The report concluded there is an “unexplained difference” of 13 cents between gas price in southern B.C. and the Pacific Northwest. While prices in Kamloops sit at 127.9 a litre Friday, it’s up to 152.9 in Vancouver heading into the Labour Day weekend.

The B.C. Utilities Commission says there is no obvious explanation to pinpoint the price difference that is costing drivers here an extra $490 million a year.

However, Milobar says there was one important suggestion made by the commission.

“They did recommend the government figure out a way to accelerate the transportation of refined product through pipeline into British Columbia,” he said of the report. “So it’s time for the government to get out of the way of the Trans Mountain project and actually get on board with trying to help move that project along as quickly as possible, so people feel relief at the pumps.”