Local MLA challenges call for carbon tax increase with petition

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — In what he sees as a case of putting the views of the majority of his constituents ahead of those of his party, Peace River North Liberal MLA Pat Pimm has started a petition against the government’s proposed Climate Leadership Plan.

Launched last Thursday, with a first day total of nearly 500 signatures, the petition targets the 32 recommendation draft report issued by a government appointed 18-member Climate Leadership Team, which Pimm believes had an unbalanced issue oriented membership.

As reported earlier, supporters of the committee recommendations called on the government to implement the suggested changes this spring in an open letter to the Premier released last week. Including a recommendation that the current $30 a tonne BC carbon tax be increased twelve times that amount by 2050.

Pimm, in his ‘No Increase to BC Carbon Tax’ petition message to the Premier and his Liberal caucus colleagues, has offered some practical application math, including how implementation of that recommendation would impact consumer prices at BC filling stations.

Now keep in mind that’s just the carbon tax portion of the posted price, and Mr. Pimm has also included a local industry impact example, noting the current carbon tax, costs Spectra Energy over 70 million dollars per year, but by 2050 under the revised plan that amount would jump to 840 million.

Critics and supporters are reminded the government has extended the deadline of the two month public comment period on the committee report until Friday.