VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Premier David Eby to show leadership and scrap the provincial carbon which is punishing British Columbians for driving to work, buying food and heating their homes. 

“The federal carbon tax is unravelling fast, federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is backing away from the carbon tax, so Eby should show leadership and scrap the B.C. carbon tax right now,” said Carson Binda, CTF B.C. Director. “British Columbians are fighting to afford the basics and they should not be forced to pay the punishing carbon tax on one more home heating bill.”

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh told reporters that his party is reconsidering the carbon tax.

“We don’t want to see the [carbon tax] burden fall on working people,” Singh said. “The plan should actually work, should actually reduce emissions.”

The Eby government plans to increase the B.C. carbon tax again on April 1, 2025. After that increase, the carbon tax will add 21 cents to the cost of a litre of gasoline, 25 cents per litre of diesel and 18 cents per cubic meter of natural gas. 

When the carbon tax was introduced, the government said it would reduce emissions by 33 per cent below 2007 levels by 2020. The province missed that emissions target and new emissions data shows emissions have increased since the tax was imposed in B.C.    

Alberta removed its carbon tax in 2019, despite the mandate from Ottawa. Households were able to save about $400 before the federal government imposed its tax. 

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe refuses to collect the federal carbon tax on home heating fuel and the province has not been penalized by Ottawa. 

“Liberal leadership candidates, federal Conservatives and even the federal NDP are acknowledging the carbon tax is a huge affordability issue for Canadian families,” Binda said. “Eby should lead the charge against the carbon tax to give working families real relief right now.”

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