Gas tax hits rural areas hardest

Golden Star: May 14th, 2008

Local governments, businesses and individual citizens from across the province have all raised concerns with Premier Gordon Campbell's gas tax, but nowhere has the outcry been louder than in rural areas. And no other area will be so heavily affected.

The B.C. Liberals will tell you that we all have to pay our fair share. We all have to take on the burden of cutting emissions. I think that most people in rural areas would agree; each of us needs to work to find a solution to climate change.

But what the B.C. Liberals won't tell you is that in setting up this tax they made sure that most of the biggest polluters in the province will be excluded from the tax. By the government's own calculations, the gas tax will achieve only seven per cent of the reductions needed to achieve their own targets, yet the government presses on with this unfair tax.

Rural residents will pay the most as we have very few other options to reduce our need for fuel. We have little choice. We drive farther for basic services and we drive larger vehicles to stay safe on our highways.

Our businesses will also suffer. For instance, forest workers cannot choose to drive less or use smaller vehicles. And the government offers nothing to assist the industries that will be so strongly impacted.

The Campbell gas tax is not a tool that will reduce emissions, nor is it in any way fair. The gas tax is simply a cash grab that will hurt rural areas hardest.

To make a real difference on emissions we must have an emission reduction plan that is developed in consultation with British Columbians, that recognizes geographical, industrial and socio-economic challenges and covers all sources of pollution.

This so-called carbon tax does not qualify and so it is my opinion that it must be rejected. You can also share your opinion by sending an email to premier@gov.bc.ca and cc me at norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca.