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Canadian Taxpayers Federation would like to see the BC Carbon Tax scrapped

According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, greenhouse gas emissions in BC continue to rise while residents in the north help pay the highest carbon tax in the country.

The rate is $40 per tonne and is set to rise to $50 per tonne by 2021.

BC Director, Kris Sims told Vista Radio, when the government introduced this back in 2008, it was supposed to do three things, none of which have come true.

“They told us that it would stop at $30 per tonne, that it would also be revenue-neutral and that it would reduce emissions, none of those things are true so why are we doing this,”

She adds with greenhouse gas emissions continuing to rise, the purpose of the tax is becoming obsolete.

“I think that the main message is that the carbon tax is unfortunately just a huge cash grab, it’s a waste of money mostly coming out of the pockets of British Columbians that are simply driving to work, driving to school and driving their trucks for their job.”

According to recent data from the province, emissions were 64.5 million tonnes in 2017, up from 63.5 million tonnes in 2016.

Sims is of the belief that technology, industry, and innovation will make things better when reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping the environment.

“It’s tech mot taxes. Politicians can rarely solve most things and they certainly can’t solve an issue as complex as climate change by slapping us with a tax.”

“Even if somehow people in Prince George managed to ride their bicycle to work every day including the winter, and they only used that for work as well, all of our food and all of the things we use is trucked to us that’s using diesel fuel. We’re always being touched by the issue of oil and gas and the carbon tax is always going to get us.”

In 2018, the provincial government took in $1.7 billion dollars from taxpayers with the carbon tax and it’s planning on taking $2.2 billion by 2021.

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Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].

Brendan Pawliw
Brendan Pawliw
Since moving to Prince George in 2015, Brendan has covered local sports including the WHL’s Prince George Cougars, Prince George Spruce Kings, UNBC Timberwolves, Cariboo Cougars AAA, and Northern Capitals U18 female hockey teams. Career highlights include play-by-play during the Spruce Kings' BCHL championship runs in 2018 and 2019, including the Doyle Cup win. He also covered the 2019 National Junior A Championship, the 2017 Telus Cup, the 2022 World Women’s Curling Championship, and the 2022 BC Summer Games. Brendan is the news voice on 94.3 The Goat and Country 97 FM, reporting on crime, real estate, labour, and environmental issues. Outside of work, he officiates box lacrosse and fastball, sits on the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame board, and co-hosts the Hockey North podcast.

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