Two thirds of BC residents say carbon tax a financial hardship: poll

A recent poll revealed two thirds of British Columbians feel the provincial carbon tax has negatively affected the finances of their household, up 26 points since the last poll in 2020.

According to the survey conducted by Research Co., 71% of BC residents are concerned about the looming crisis of climate change and global warming.

However, since the provincial carbon tax was implemented in July 2008, a decade before the federal government brought in a federal carbon tax, many British Columbian’s have been feeling an added financial strain.

“The notion of the British Columbia carbon tax causing financial strife is more prevalent in Northern BC (65%), Metro Vancouver (64%) and the Fraser Valley (also 64%),” Research Co. president Mario Canseco said in a press release. “The proportions are slightly lower in Southern BC (56%) and Vancouver Island (also 56%).”

If the federal Conservative Party forms the government after the next election, it has pledged to abolish the federal carbon tax. If this were to happen, 43% of British Columbians think the provincial carbon tax should also be scrapped if the federal version is abandoned, while 40% would prefer to keep it.

British Columbians aged 18 to 34 show the highest amount of support for keeping the carbon tax (54%). However, less support it in the 35 to 54 age group (44%) and even fewer of those aged 55 and over (36%).

The public is similarly divided on whether the provincial government has been paying enough attention to the environment. One third of the public say that it is, with 7% saying the province is too concerned with the environment. Meanwhile, 44% say the government hasn’t been paying enough attention.

Over two thirds of the population said the tax hasn’t even worked to make the public more mindful of their consumption, leaving many to wonder, what was it all for?

More information about the Research Co. poll can be found on its website here.

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