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.91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渞ipped off91裸聊视频� at the pumps.

91裸聊视频淧eople feel like they91裸聊视频檙e being ripped off when they fill up at the gas station. And they91裸聊视频檙e right,91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渢o make sure fuel companies aren91裸聊视频檛 taking advantage of the current conditions.

91裸聊视频淎nd some of the price increases are part of, reflection of the rise in the world price and the government doesn91裸聊视频檛 have control over that and neither do the local suppliers,91裸聊视频� Ralston pointed out.

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

91裸聊视频淵eah, yeah, but what is very clear and I think there91裸聊视频檚 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,91裸聊视频� he countered.

Ralston cited 91裸聊视频渁 very good example91裸聊视频� contained in the utilities commission91裸聊视频檚 most recent report comparing gas prices in Squamish with those in West Vancouver.

91裸聊视频淚n West Vancouver they pay the TransLink, 17.5 cents per litre and in Squamish they don91裸聊视频檛. And guess what the gas prices in Squamish are? They91裸聊视频檙e higher than in West Vancouver. So they just fill it in, and they just take the money.

91裸聊视频淪o we don91裸聊视频檛 think in the long-term it91裸聊视频檚 good policy to take away the carbon tax. I mean, we91裸聊视频檙e in a climate crisis,91裸聊视频� Ralston said. 91裸聊视频淚 get that small businesses, whether you91裸聊视频檝e got a delivery business or you91裸聊视频檙e driving your kids to soccer, any of that kind of stuff, it is an additional financial burden, there91裸聊视频檚 no doubt it, but taking away the taxes won91裸聊视频檛 result in any relief it91裸聊视频檇 just be more money for the gas companies.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e working on that, I mean I can91裸聊视频檛 get ahead of the premier91裸聊视频檚 office on that 91裸聊视频� there91裸聊视频檚 internal discussions and processes that are going through,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e understand that that the crisis is now and the prices are up now, so don91裸聊视频檛 think there91裸聊视频檚 any effort to delay it, but you can91裸聊视频檛 do these things at a snap of the finger.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not crazy about it,91裸聊视频� he replied.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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