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By Nathan Jordan

Gas Tax / Gas Prices

BC Taxpayers Federation Calls on Premier Horgan to Axe the Gas Tax

Oct 5, 2022 | 4:59 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – A string of oil refinery shutdowns across the Western United States is behind the record high gas prices seen in British Columbia this week. With shutdowns spread across states from Ohio to California, including BC’s primary source for imported oil in Ferndale, Washington, gas stations across Western Canada have had a hard time accessing their usual supplies of “cheap” gas to fill the tanks of British Columbians. Gasbuddy Petroleum Analyst, Patrick De Haan says while the shutdowns have caused a disruption to the supply chain, and higher prices as a result, there is hope on the horizon.

“Over the last week we’ve seen oil prices jump by $10 a barrel. In addition the west coast, areas of BC and down in the US mainland are seeing many many refinery issues that have caused supply to drop considerably, that has caused the price of gasoline to jump significantly. Prices now in much of Prince George closer to $2.00 a liter. We could see prices dropping 10 to 20 cents a litre, starting next week. That could take a couple of weeks to fully materialize, I do believe by the month of October, we’ll see prices well below what they are today, they could be 25 to 35 cents a litre lower than they are today, so long as there are no new disruptions” -Patrick De Haan, Petroleum Analyst

That means as refineries south of the border return to full production outputs, the supply chain woes plaguing BC will begin to ease, likely with incremental decreases in gas prices over the coming weeks. For the time being, Carson Binda, Director of British Columbia’s branch of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, is calling directly on Premier John Horgan, to axe the gas taxes, and offer immediate relief to Canadians he feels are being gouged at the pumps by carbon tax schemes.

“The high pricing we’re seeing in the province right now in relation to gas, is a direct result of this government’s failed taxation policy. So in the lower mainland right now, residents are paying 75 cents a liter of taxes on gas. If our Premier followed the example set by other provinces like Alberta, Ontario or Newfoundland and Labrador, he would cut the Second Provincial Carbon Tax, as well as the provincial excise tax on gas. It would save taxpayers $20 every single time they fill up their minivan, at a time when too many British Columbians are struggling to put food on the table, that’s a lot of money, that’s a roast chicken dinner for a family of four with all the fixings” – Carson Binda, Director – Canadian Taxpayers Federation – British Columbia Branch

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What Binda and the Canadian Taxpayers Federation are proposing is the removal of a 17 cent per litre provincial carbon tax, in addition to the 8.5 cent per liter excise tax on gasoline, amounting to savings of roughly $20 on a full 6o liter tank of gas. While provincial taxes alone are not the underlying cause of the record high cost of gas in BC, the fact that the cost of carbon taxes trickle down to consumers is something GasBuddy Petroleum Analyst Patrick De Haan confirms.

“Absolutely, carbon taxes are a permanent impact to Canadians, coast to coast, and they will drive up the cost of gasoline disproportionately. Even if oil prices go gown, the rise in carbon taxes will likely prevent gas prices (at the pump) from meaningfully going down back to where Canadians have seen them in years past. So, we may never see sub $1.00/L prices, and it may be just as difficult in the years ahead to see prices ever go back below $1.25/L or $1.50/L” -Patrick De Haan, Petroleum Analyst