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.香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播渞ipped off香蕉视频直播� at the pumps.

香蕉视频直播淧eople feel like they香蕉视频直播檙e being ripped off when they fill up at the gas station. And they香蕉视频直播檙e right,香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播渢o make sure fuel companies aren香蕉视频直播檛 taking advantage of the current conditions.

香蕉视频直播淎nd some of the price increases are part of, reflection of the rise in the world price and the government doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have control over that and neither do the local suppliers,香蕉视频直播� Ralston pointed out.

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

香蕉视频直播淵eah, yeah, but what is very clear and I think there香蕉视频直播檚 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,香蕉视频直播� he countered.

Ralston cited 香蕉视频直播渁 very good example香蕉视频直播� contained in the utilities commission香蕉视频直播檚 most recent report comparing gas prices in Squamish with those in West Vancouver.

香蕉视频直播淚n West Vancouver they pay the TransLink, 17.5 cents per litre and in Squamish they don香蕉视频直播檛. And guess what the gas prices in Squamish are? They香蕉视频直播檙e higher than in West Vancouver. So they just fill it in, and they just take the money.

香蕉视频直播淪o we don香蕉视频直播檛 think in the long-term it香蕉视频直播檚 good policy to take away the carbon tax. I mean, we香蕉视频直播檙e in a climate crisis,香蕉视频直播� Ralston said. 香蕉视频直播淚 get that small businesses, whether you香蕉视频直播檝e got a delivery business or you香蕉视频直播檙e driving your kids to soccer, any of that kind of stuff, it is an additional financial burden, there香蕉视频直播檚 no doubt it, but taking away the taxes won香蕉视频直播檛 result in any relief it香蕉视频直播檇 just be more money for the gas companies.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e working on that, I mean I can香蕉视频直播檛 get ahead of the premier香蕉视频直播檚 office on that 香蕉视频直播� there香蕉视频直播檚 internal discussions and processes that are going through,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e understand that that the crisis is now and the prices are up now, so don香蕉视频直播檛 think there香蕉视频直播檚 any effort to delay it, but you can香蕉视频直播檛 do these things at a snap of the finger.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 not crazy about it,香蕉视频直播� he replied.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on   and follow Tom on