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.害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所渞ipped off害羞草研究所� at the pumps.

害羞草研究所淧eople feel like they害羞草研究所檙e being ripped off when they fill up at the gas station. And they害羞草研究所檙e right,害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所渢o make sure fuel companies aren害羞草研究所檛 taking advantage of the current conditions.

害羞草研究所淎nd some of the price increases are part of, reflection of the rise in the world price and the government doesn害羞草研究所檛 have control over that and neither do the local suppliers,害羞草研究所� Ralston pointed out.

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

害羞草研究所淵eah, yeah, but what is very clear and I think there害羞草研究所檚 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,害羞草研究所� he countered.

Ralston cited 害羞草研究所渁 very good example害羞草研究所� contained in the utilities commission害羞草研究所檚 most recent report comparing gas prices in Squamish with those in West Vancouver.

害羞草研究所淚n West Vancouver they pay the TransLink, 17.5 cents per litre and in Squamish they don害羞草研究所檛. And guess what the gas prices in Squamish are? They害羞草研究所檙e higher than in West Vancouver. So they just fill it in, and they just take the money.

害羞草研究所淪o we don害羞草研究所檛 think in the long-term it害羞草研究所檚 good policy to take away the carbon tax. I mean, we害羞草研究所檙e in a climate crisis,害羞草研究所� Ralston said. 害羞草研究所淚 get that small businesses, whether you害羞草研究所檝e got a delivery business or you害羞草研究所檙e driving your kids to soccer, any of that kind of stuff, it is an additional financial burden, there害羞草研究所檚 no doubt it, but taking away the taxes won害羞草研究所檛 result in any relief it害羞草研究所檇 just be more money for the gas companies.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e working on that, I mean I can害羞草研究所檛 get ahead of the premier害羞草研究所檚 office on that 害羞草研究所� there害羞草研究所檚 internal discussions and processes that are going through,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e understand that that the crisis is now and the prices are up now, so don害羞草研究所檛 think there害羞草研究所檚 any effort to delay it, but you can害羞草研究所檛 do these things at a snap of the finger.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not crazy about it,害羞草研究所� he replied.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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