Drivers in BC will soon receive a rebate from the province in an attempt to alleviate some of the impact of high gas prices..The amount will be a one-time $110 ICBC rebate for drivers, and commercial drivers will get $165, totalling more than $395 million. Drivers are told the rebate will be deposited into their accounts in May, and those who are not signed up for direct deposit with ICBC will get a cheque mailed in June..Premier John Horgan said Friday the record-high gas prices seen in parts of BC are a “direct result of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” adding that “people are facing increased costs at no fault of their own.”.“As a result of our work to fix ICBC, we’re in a position to put money back in people’s pockets to help a little with these increased costs,” said Horgan..The premier said the rebate is a better course of action than direct tax relief at the pump, and criticized Alberta’s recent decision to temporarily reduce its tax on gasoline and diesel by 13 cents per litre..“Carbon taxes here in BC go right back to people and businesses to drive down emissions,” he said..“We were reluctant and would not amend the taxation because it would just be filled by an increase in prices at the pump and we saw that in Alberta where the government promised a 13 cent tax reduction on a Monday and on a Wednesday the price went up 14 cents.”.When asked where the figures came from, minister of public safety and solicitor general Mike Farnworth said “good financial management” at ICBC has left the corporation in a better financial situation..“It’s about $395 – $400 million that would be available, and then recognizing that commercial vehicles are on the road have … more expenses,” said Farnworth..“And so the $110 and $165 was achieved on that basis, as a way of ensuring that everybody is treated equitably, but also recognizing from the commercial vehicle perspective, they do have some higher operating costs.”.With prices nearing 2$ per litre in many areas of the province, officials say the rebate is a “significant contribution.”.Also, a carbon tax in BC is going from 10 cents to 11 cents per litre on April 1 as part of a federal mandate, which Horgan repeatedly supported..“It’s easy for politicians to declare taxes are the problem. Those taxes go to building the roads, providing the transit, and making sure our infrastructure is as modern as it can be,” Horgan said in early March..BC forecasts a $5.5 billion deficit in the coming year..“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 Kris Sims, BC director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF)..“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.”.The CTF highlights that in Metro Vancouver about 73 cents cost per litre of gasoline is comprised of taxes such as carbon, excise, transit, and sales taxes..“These carbon taxes cost us about $20 extra every time we fill up a minivan,” said Sims, adding that the government should “scrap these carbon taxes and provide instant relief to working people.”.Reid Small is a BC-based reporter for the Western Standard.,rsmall@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/reidsmall
Drivers in BC will soon receive a rebate from the province in an attempt to alleviate some of the impact of high gas prices..The amount will be a one-time $110 ICBC rebate for drivers, and commercial drivers will get $165, totalling more than $395 million. Drivers are told the rebate will be deposited into their accounts in May, and those who are not signed up for direct deposit with ICBC will get a cheque mailed in June..Premier John Horgan said Friday the record-high gas prices seen in parts of BC are a “direct result of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” adding that “people are facing increased costs at no fault of their own.”.“As a result of our work to fix ICBC, we’re in a position to put money back in people’s pockets to help a little with these increased costs,” said Horgan..The premier said the rebate is a better course of action than direct tax relief at the pump, and criticized Alberta’s recent decision to temporarily reduce its tax on gasoline and diesel by 13 cents per litre..“Carbon taxes here in BC go right back to people and businesses to drive down emissions,” he said..“We were reluctant and would not amend the taxation because it would just be filled by an increase in prices at the pump and we saw that in Alberta where the government promised a 13 cent tax reduction on a Monday and on a Wednesday the price went up 14 cents.”.When asked where the figures came from, minister of public safety and solicitor general Mike Farnworth said “good financial management” at ICBC has left the corporation in a better financial situation..“It’s about $395 – $400 million that would be available, and then recognizing that commercial vehicles are on the road have … more expenses,” said Farnworth..“And so the $110 and $165 was achieved on that basis, as a way of ensuring that everybody is treated equitably, but also recognizing from the commercial vehicle perspective, they do have some higher operating costs.”.With prices nearing 2$ per litre in many areas of the province, officials say the rebate is a “significant contribution.”.Also, a carbon tax in BC is going from 10 cents to 11 cents per litre on April 1 as part of a federal mandate, which Horgan repeatedly supported..“It’s easy for politicians to declare taxes are the problem. Those taxes go to building the roads, providing the transit, and making sure our infrastructure is as modern as it can be,” Horgan said in early March..BC forecasts a $5.5 billion deficit in the coming year..“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 Kris Sims, BC director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF)..“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.”.The CTF highlights that in Metro Vancouver about 73 cents cost per litre of gasoline is comprised of taxes such as carbon, excise, transit, and sales taxes..“These carbon taxes cost us about $20 extra every time we fill up a minivan,” said Sims, adding that the government should “scrap these carbon taxes and provide instant relief to working people.”.Reid Small is a BC-based reporter for the Western Standard.,rsmall@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/reidsmall
