File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: NDP ‘idles’ while gas prices continue to soar

Mar 10, 2022 | 1:07 PM

EACH DAY THAT JOHN HORGAN fails to take action on gas prices — as he promised to do — costs continue to soar to new heights and create more stress for individuals and families already struggling to pay their monthly bills.

It was Horgan who said in March 2018, “we are monitoring gas prices and we will take steps if necessary… we have talked about a range of options, and we will look at them should the prices remain high over the next number of weeks.” Then in April 2019, he said, “…if the price increases persist through the summer, we’ll look at other options.”

Fast forward to today, four years after Horgan’s initial promise to step in, and he still hasn’t done much of anything to bring down the price at the pumps. In fact, the few steps he has taken have only made the situation worse.

One of the NDP’s first actions in 2017 was to remove the revenue-neutrality from the carbon tax and turn into a giant cash grab — so the NDP is taking a billion dollars out of the pockets of drivers and giving nothing back. The premier also had the BC Utilities Commission review costs, but they weren’t allowed to look at government policies — and in the end, all British Columbians got was an expensive yet useless website to display gas prices that are easily found elsewhere on the internet.

What’s more, small gas stations used to be able to offer cheaper gas by trucking it over from Alberta, especially for communities in the Interior. However, the NDP is now imposing a 25-cent per litre penalty on gas stations that try to offer drivers cheaper gas. And on January 1 of this year, the NDP restricted the amount of fuel that can be imported to gas stations from Alberta at just 200,000 litres, down from 75 million litres under the BC Liberals.

ONE MAN'S OPINION

COLLINS: There is no disgrace in being cheesy once in a while

21h ago

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: December 4, 2025

Dec 04, 2025

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: 16 days of activism against gender-based violence

Dec 03, 2025

When questioned about high gas prices in the Legislature, the government has simply blamed them on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and its impact on international commodities. But that excuse doesn’t check out, because British Columbia already had the highest gas taxes and gas prices in North America before this senseless war broke out.

Instead of making excuses, John Horgan and the NDP should be taking action to reduce these costs for British Columbians. While Alberta is dropping its provincial fuel tax, here in B.C. our government continues to increase gas taxes every year. The province currently collects 24.46 cents on every litre in taxes — and as much as 37 cents in regions like metro Vancouver. But instead of doing something, as other Premiers are doing, our Premier continues to do nothing.

What we’ve suggested is that the NDP use the Climate Action Tax Credit — a tool created by Kevin Falcon and the BC Liberals — to offer families a one-time carbon tax rebate to provide some relief to middle-class British Columbians. We’ll see if the NDP sees the common sense in this approach and goes for it.

In the meantime, the lack of action on the part of the NDP is particularly unsettling for people living in smaller, more rural parts of the province who have limited public transit options. While John Horgan’s solution to high gas prices is to tell people to take the bus, that’s simply not an option for many British Columbians.

It’s clear the Premier is simply shrugging his shoulders, indifferent to how high gas prices are affecting British Columbians who need to drive to get to where they need to be — and who continue to struggle to make ends meet as the cost of nearly everything continues to rise under his government.

——

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.