BC’s Conservatives remain the only party committed to eliminating this unfair tax on residents

 

Taxing everyday working people into poverty will not change the weather

 

KAMLOOPS (March 31, 2024):  As David Eby’s NDP government prepares to raise the BC Liberal initiated provincial carbon tax tomorrow, BC’s Conservatives remain the only party committed to eliminating this unfair tax on residents.

With gas prices already averaging $1.70 per litre across the ridings of Kamloops Centre and Kamloops North Thompson, how much are people in Clearwater, Kamloops, and Barriere already paying in taxes?

According to the Government of Canada*, it amounts to 38.81 cents per liter; tomorrow, it will reach over 42 cents as the provincial government implements a further 3.3 cent increase to the carbon tax.

Speaking to this latest increase to hit families, Kamloops North Thompson Conservative candidate Ward Stamer noted, “A good two-thirds of the economy in the North Thompson is driven by ranching and forestry, and both will be hit hard as the carbon tax -- on fuel necessary to operate – increases once again.

Forestry and ranching are critical to the well-being of our province, and this latest round of increased costs will just add a further burden to businesses, many family operated, that are already struggling to survive.”

“This increase in the regressive carbon tax hits all British Columbians, especially businesses, who must pass on the cost to you”, continued Kamloops Centre candidate Dennis Giesbrecht. “Unlike BC United, whose only plan is to tinker around the edges, Conservatives are the only party fully committed to eliminating this unfair** tax on residents.”

Party Leader John Rustad has stated, “Taxing everyday, working people into poverty will not change the weather.”

“We agree. We need innovation, not taxation”, concluded both Stamer and Giesbrecht.

* Fuel consumption levies in Canada: https://natural-resources.canada.ca/our-natural-resources/domestic-and-international-markets/transportation-fuel-prices/fuel-consumption-taxes-canada/18885

** the BC budget expects to raise $2.56 billion in carbon tax revenue, and projects to spend $1 billion on rebates -- only those who earn $39,115 a year or less will get a full rebate of $447 for the year