Surrey-Whalley NDP MLA Bruce Ralston says cutting fuel taxes to lower thumping gas prices at the pump would only create a price gap that gas companies would then fill.

Ralston, now B.C.B次元官网网址檚 minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, said in a press statement in 2019, following the release of a BC Utilities Commission investigation into gas prices, that British Columbians are being B次元官网网址渞ipped offB次元官网网址� at the pumps.

B次元官网网址淧eople feel like theyB次元官网网址檙e being ripped off when they fill up at the gas station. And theyB次元官网网址檙e right,B次元官网网址� he said at the time.

But gas prices today, as any local commuter knows too well, have soared much higher than they were even back then.

Ralston noted the Fuel Price Transparency Act gives the utilities commission, an independent energy watchdog, the power to monitor wholesale and retail prices B次元官网网址渢o make sure fuel companies arenB次元官网网址檛 taking advantage of the current conditions.

B次元官网网址淎nd some of the price increases are part of, reflection of the rise in the world price and the government doesnB次元官网网址檛 have control over that and neither do the local suppliers,B次元官网网址� Ralston pointed out.

The government, however, does have control over fuel taxes.

B次元官网网址淵eah, yeah, but what is very clear and I think thereB次元官网网址檚 been a lot of discussion about this, but what would happen if we were to take off or take away the fuel tax, for example a carbon tax? The gas companies would just fill that and take the money for themselves,B次元官网网址� he countered.

Ralston cited B次元官网网址渁 very good exampleB次元官网网址� contained in the utilities commissionB次元官网网址檚 most recent report comparing gas prices in Squamish with those in West Vancouver.

B次元官网网址淚n West Vancouver they pay the TransLink, 17.5 cents per litre and in Squamish they donB次元官网网址檛. And guess what the gas prices in Squamish are? TheyB次元官网网址檙e higher than in West Vancouver. So they just fill it in, and they just take the money.

B次元官网网址淪o we donB次元官网网址檛 think in the long-term itB次元官网网址檚 good policy to take away the carbon tax. I mean, weB次元官网网址檙e in a climate crisis,B次元官网网址� Ralston said. B次元官网网址淚 get that small businesses, whether youB次元官网网址檝e got a delivery business or youB次元官网网址檙e driving your kids to soccer, any of that kind of stuff, it is an additional financial burden, thereB次元官网网址檚 no doubt it, but taking away the taxes wonB次元官网网址檛 result in any relief itB次元官网网址檇 just be more money for the gas companies.B次元官网网址�

Meantime, Premier John Horgan is expected to roll out a plan soon to tackle high gas prices.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e working on that, I mean I canB次元官网网址檛 get ahead of the premierB次元官网网址檚 office on that B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 internal discussions and processes that are going through,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e understand that that the crisis is now and the prices are up now, so donB次元官网网址檛 think thereB次元官网网址檚 any effort to delay it, but you canB次元官网网址檛 do these things at a snap of the finger.B次元官网网址�

How does Ralston feel about paying more than $2 per litre at the pump?

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not crazy about it,B次元官网网址� he replied.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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