Local MLA Norm Macdonald is concerned and sees several problems with this new tax.
“By the government’s own numbers, the best case scenario is that this gas tax will result in a 2.8% cut in emissions by 2020,” said Macdonald, pointing out that rural British Columbians “have little choice in whether or not they drive their vehicles; we have very few other options for transit. A truly effective carbon tax would act as an incentive to change behaviour but in rural areas we have no choice.”
Macdonald’s second problem with the tax is that the “big polluters are not included in dealing with their emissions in a effective way.”
He feels that if B.C. is to be successful in fighting climate change the focus must be on big polluters and introducing better options for consumers.
On the legislative side Macdonald also objected to how the bill was put through.
“We only talked about it for two hours,” he said. “There was no committee stage. It wasn’t properly debated. That is part of my problem with the bill. Operating that way does a great disservice to the process.”
As part of the B.C. government’s climate plan, each B.C. resident who submitted an income tax return was to receive a $100 cheque as a Climate Action Dividend. The idea was that people spend the money on something ‘green’ such as a new pair of running shoes.
“What I’ve been hearing is that people just think it’s a pre-election stunt,” said Macdonald. “What many don’t know is that it cost 11 million to distribute these cheques. I think most people must see that as a waste. Money would be better spent elsewhere.”
The tax will continue to increase each year until 2012, reaching a final price of about 7.2 cents per litre at the pumps.