SOUND OFF: Too little, too late — the NDP’s poor effort in gas price ‘relief’

COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO PUBLICLY DECLARES, “I don’t understand this affordability stuff,” it’s no surprise that Premier Horgan and the NDP thought that a $110, one-time rebate would be a reasonable stipend for British Columbians struggling with record-high gas prices. When it is costing more than $100 to fill up an average family-sized car to drive to work, school, appointments and so on, it is hard to fathom why the government is not providing drivers with adequate relief.

John Horgan has continued to promise British Columbians he will step in and do something to combat prices, yet he hasn’t come up with any actions or solutions. Years have passed since he first started making those commitments and nothing has changed. All British Columbians have is an expensive website that tracks the money flowing out of their pockets to fill up their tanks.

Calling for action, the Official Opposition even provided a straightforward solution for the NDP – use already existing carbon credits to provide immediate help. Using the BC Climate Action Tax Credit for an enhanced rebate would directly help lower- and middle-income families, and could have been in people’s pockets by the first week of April. Instead, the government has chosen to repackage a rebate that should have been going to ratepayers all along, and it won’t get to you until late May.

Electric vehicle owners were also entitled to the so-called rebate – which the government has now encouraged them to donate to charity. This was not outlined by the premier, any ministers or ICBC until posted on their website. The NDP’s actual intent of the policy as an auto insurance rebate with a weak connection to fuel is showing.