Pressure mounting on B.C. government to reduce fuel costs

PENTICTON – The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is trying to round up some support and pressure the province into scrapping the B.C. carbon tax.

B.C. drivers cannot afford soaring gasoline prices caused by the province increasing fuel taxes and fighting pipeline expansions, according to a petition posted by the lobby group. It goes on to ask that the government change their tack, support pipeline projects and lower taxes.

Kris Sims, from the Taxpayers Federation, said that the decision to put up the petition came on the heels of political response to rising gas prices.

"For example we saw Premier John Horgan say 'wow, we need relief at the pump,' but it's because they jacked up the Carbon Tax and his government picked a fight with Alberta … (rising prices are) literally what they wanted," she said. "On the other hand, we see B.C. Liberals say 'we want to relieve pain at the pump,' but they implemented the Carbon Tax. Maybe they realized it's a mistake?"

Sims said the taxpayers federation can tell them exactly where to make cuts to reduce prices because there are serious consequences to maintaining the status quo.

Rising gas prices don't just impact people's driving habits. It means grocery prices rise and people in more rural areas suffer more greatly.

"That's why we are really hoping that these guys mean it and they really want to bring theses prices down," she said.

They aren't the only ones looking to levy some pressure on the NDP government.

The Shuswap community of Sicamous has also entered the fray, and put forward a resolution for consideration by the Southern Interior Local Government Association convention currently underway in Penticton. The resolution asks the Union of B.C. Municipalities to petition the province to regulate fuel costs to be "better in line with the fuel costs across Canada."

Vancouver’s sky high gas prices are getting a lot of attention these days, but the interior of British Columbia isn’t all that far behind when it comes to the pain at the pump.

Motorists in Penticton started to see a spike in prices in that Okanagan city yesterday, May 1, when two major gas retailers upped prices by around 25 cents a litre, from $1.31.9 to $1.58.9 — albeit very briefly. That was almost in line with what Vancouver motorists are paying, with Gasbuddy listings for Vancouver ranging from $1.59.9 to $1.68.9.

Gasbuddy says a litre of regular is going for $1.49.9 in Kamloops today, $1.40.9 in Vernon, between $1.41.9 and $1.49.9 in Kelowna, while in Penticton prices are back down to around $1.34.9.

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