File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Peter Milobar, Kamloops-North Thompson MLA

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: NDP and Eby’s carbon tax increase will only make affordability issues worse

Mar 21, 2024 | 10:30 AM

DESPITE A MAJOR AFFORDABILITY CRISIS currently gripping British Columbia, the NDP government is proceeding with their planned 23 percent carbon tax increase on April 1.

It’s the latest in a string of 32 new and increased taxes under David Eby and the NDP that will only increase cost-of-living pressures and make life more expensive. When more than half of British Columbians are just $200 away from not being able to pay their bills each month, this hike shows exactly how out of touch David Eby’s NDP government has become.

The carbon tax, which was once capped at $30 and a revenue neutral tax shift that returned every dollar back to British Columbians, has morphed into a cash grab under the NDP, with the government now pocketing approximately 60 percent of the proceeds. This drastic shift has turned a policy meant to combat climate change into another financial burden on the wallets of British Columbians.

British Columbia already has the highest gas taxes and prices in North America, where residents are faced with a 14.5 cent provincial motor fuel tax and a carbon tax that currently stands at 14 cents per litre. The last thing people need is higher gas prices, but the situation is about to get worse on April 1 when the carbon tax is set to increase to almost 18 cents a litre.

This is only the beginning. From 2017 to 2023, the NDP has more than doubled the carbon tax, and plans laid out by David Eby signal an increase to an overwhelming 461 percent by 2030. As a result, the NDP plans to further hike the carbon tax will make an already challenging situation worse, push our gas prices higher than ever, and place additional strain on households and small businesses.

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Yet, in the face of these challenges, we must ask ourselves if this cash grab has been effective in addressing climate change. Unfortunately, the path chosen by the NDP—marked by the removal of revenue neutrality and a significant hike in tax rates—is not a balanced or effective approach to this global challenge. The tax’s structure is no longer sustainable for British Columbians, particularly tradespeople and those reliant on vehicles for their livelihood, who will see their costs soar as a result.

The NDP’s approach is emblematic of their inability to manage finances effectively and David Eby’s failure to address the affordability crisis. With a history of record taxation and deficits, this government has shown a disregard for practical fiscal management and the economic well-being of folks in every corner of our province.

Kevin Falcon and our BC United team are committed to taking immediate action to deliver results and alleviate this pressure. We will stop the carbon tax increase on fuel and permanently reduce the provincial fuel tax, offering immediate relief of up to fifteen cents per litre at the pump. Unlike the NDP, we know that B.C. can be a climate leader in a way that doesn’t come at the expense of affordability for people.

The choice before British Columbians is clear. We can continue down the path of punishing taxation and fiscal mismanagement laid out by the NDP, or we can choose a future where environmental stewardship, affordability, and strong economic management go hand in hand.

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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.