CTF Pokes Holes in Road Pricing Scheme
- The Lower Mainland has second-highest gas taxes in Canada
Road pricing would just add to that tax burden
COQUITLAM, BC: Current political discussions around road pricing in the Lower Mainland would make things worse for taxpayers, said the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today.
The CTF released a backgrounder, The Problems with Pricing, during its annual Gas Tax Honesty Day event. Gas taxes in the Lower Mainland are the second-highest in Canada at 48 cents/L:
| Federal excise | 10 cents/L |
| Provincial excise | 8.5 cents/L |
| TransLink | 17 cents/L |
| BC Carbon Tax | 6.7 cents/L |
| GST | 5% (5.8 cents/L at $1.15 gas) |
| TOTAL TAX | 48 cents/L |
Thanks to TransLink, this is higher than the rest of BC. Victoria-area gas taxes are 41 cents/L, and the rest of BC is 37 cents/L. See our Gas Tax Honesty Day report HERE for a full breakdown of those taxes.
In the CTF’s The Problems with Pricing backgrounder, BC Director Jordan Bateman noted the much-discussed idea of a dollar-a-crossing bridge toll would generate less than half the money needed to meet the debt payments on the Port Mann, Golden Ears, new Pattullo, new Massey, and TransLink mayors’ plan. In fact, a $2.04 per crossing toll would be necessary.
Before taxpayers should accept any form of road pricing or expanded bridge tolling, politicians should put into law that gas taxes would be cut an equal amount.
“Many Lower Mainland residents are already struggling to keep up with rising taxes and fees and cost of living,” said Bateman. “The last thing they need is to send TransLink even more money.”
The CTF laid out four conditions before road pricing should be accepted by taxpayers:
- The people must vote to approve road pricing.
- All bridges must be including the City of Vancouver bridges.
- Personal privacy must be protected. Government must enhance its level of protection and concern around people’s privacy.
- Revenue neutrality. Gas taxes must be cut at an equal amount to the money generated by road pricing.
“Neither Peter Fassbender nor the TransLink mayors have the public’s permission to bring in road pricing,” said Bateman. “Taxpayers must be assured that any such system is fair, protects their privacy and won’t double dip with gas taxes.”
- See The Problems with Pricing backgrounder HERE.
- See the CTF’s 2016 Gas Tax Honesty Day report HERE.
- See a French version of the CTF’s 2016 Gas Tax Honesty Day report HERE.
- See the slides from the news conference HERE and HERE.
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For more information:
Jordan Bateman – c: 604-999-3319 or email [email protected]