The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released its 24th annual Gas Tax Honesty Report, within which it highlights Vancouver drivers as ponying up the highest gas taxes in North America..As for Vancouver’s overall pump price average in April, drivers paid $1.98 per litre meaning the city has the highest gas prices in the country. Of the total, 75 cents were taxes..BC’s capital follows as a close second, with Victoria drivers paying an average $1.94 per litre..The CTF report shows the rest of BC’s prices averaged $1.88 per litre, and says the difference can be partly explained as being due to transit taxes applied in Vancouver and Victoria..“Drivers are fighting to afford to drive to work and high taxes are making it much worse,” said CTF’s BC director, Kris Sims..“Politicians in Ottawa and Victoria could make fuel prices more affordable by scrapping some of these taxes.”.The “tax bite,” as the CTF calls it, includes the province’s two carbon taxes, provincial and federal excise taxes, municipal transit taxes, and a federal sales tax in addition to other taxes..Of BC’s carbon taxes, the first is tied to the federal mandatory minimum, costing 11 cents per litre of gasoline. The second is a government fuel regulation which adds roughly 17 cents per litre, as highlighted by the non-profit..Amid record-breaking prices, Premier John Horgan encouraged British Columbians to “think” before driving last week, suggesting drivers find alternative modes of transit..“If you’re going to the grocery store and you know you’ve got a neighbour that needs something, ask if you can pick it up for them and reduce the number of trips that we take,” said Horgan..“Think before you hop in the car, do you need to make that trip? Is there a way you can do it with a neighbour or someone who is going by?”.In March the premier announced a one-time $110 ICBC rebate for drivers, and $165 for commercial drivers — totalling more than $395 million..Much to the CTF's annoyance, Horgan called the rebate a superior course of action as opposed to direct tax relief at the pump, as “carbon taxes here in BC go right back to people and businesses to drive down emissions,” he said..“Why is Horgan just handing drivers back their own ICBC money, when he knows that one of the main problems causing pain at the gas pumps in BC is the carbon taxes?” said Sims at the time..“ICBC happens to have extra money at this moment and it should be paid back to us, but that’s like trying to pay your rent with cash you found in an old jacket.”.Fast forward two months and the premier maintains his position..The BC Liberals called on the province to temporarily drop its gas taxes and import taxes on gas from Alberta, as well as a one-time rebate through the Climate Action Tax Credit..Horgan called tax reductions a “short-sighted plan.”
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released its 24th annual Gas Tax Honesty Report, within which it highlights Vancouver drivers as ponying up the highest gas taxes in North America..As for Vancouver’s overall pump price average in April, drivers paid $1.98 per litre meaning the city has the highest gas prices in the country. Of the total, 75 cents were taxes..BC’s capital follows as a close second, with Victoria drivers paying an average $1.94 per litre..The CTF report shows the rest of BC’s prices averaged $1.88 per litre, and says the difference can be partly explained as being due to transit taxes applied in Vancouver and Victoria..“Drivers are fighting to afford to drive to work and high taxes are making it much worse,” said CTF’s BC director, Kris Sims..“Politicians in Ottawa and Victoria could make fuel prices more affordable by scrapping some of these taxes.”.The “tax bite,” as the CTF calls it, includes the province’s two carbon taxes, provincial and federal excise taxes, municipal transit taxes, and a federal sales tax in addition to other taxes..Of BC’s carbon taxes, the first is tied to the federal mandatory minimum, costing 11 cents per litre of gasoline. The second is a government fuel regulation which adds roughly 17 cents per litre, as highlighted by the non-profit..Amid record-breaking prices, Premier John Horgan encouraged British Columbians to “think” before driving last week, suggesting drivers find alternative modes of transit..“If you’re going to the grocery store and you know you’ve got a neighbour that needs something, ask if you can pick it up for them and reduce the number of trips that we take,” said Horgan..“Think before you hop in the car, do you need to make that trip? Is there a way you can do it with a neighbour or someone who is going by?”.In March the premier announced a one-time $110 ICBC rebate for drivers, and $165 for commercial drivers — totalling more than $395 million..Much to the CTF's annoyance, Horgan called the rebate a superior course of action as opposed to direct tax relief at the pump, as “carbon taxes here in BC go right back to people and businesses to drive down emissions,” he said..“Why is Horgan just handing drivers back their own ICBC money, when he knows that one of the main problems causing pain at the gas pumps in BC is the carbon taxes?” said Sims at the time..“ICBC happens to have extra money at this moment and it should be paid back to us, but that’s like trying to pay your rent with cash you found in an old jacket.”.Fast forward two months and the premier maintains his position..The BC Liberals called on the province to temporarily drop its gas taxes and import taxes on gas from Alberta, as well as a one-time rebate through the Climate Action Tax Credit..Horgan called tax reductions a “short-sighted plan.”