‘Make things more affordable’: Fort St. John reacts to consumer carbon tax repeal

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Energeticcity.ca took to the streets to find the people of Fort St. John are largely positive about the consumer carbon tax being removed. 

In his first act as prime minister, Mark Carney signed a directive ending the consumer carbon tax which took effect on April 1st, and rebates for the month will continue as planned. 

The B.C. provincial government also fast-tracked legislation to remove its consumer carbon tax to coincide with the demise of the federal version.

According to the CBC, average gas prices have already sharply declined by nearly 17 cents per litre today.

Keanishea McLaren, 33, was enthusiastic about the repeal, saying the tax had increased the price of living, including groceries, gas, electricity and other expenses.

“I am very optimistic, prices are beginning to go down,” said McLaren.

The cost of living led McLaren and her husband Nick into financial trouble and forced them to move into the Northern Centre of Hope shelter at the Salvation Army. 

“We finally lost our home because we couldn’t keep up the payments,” said McLaren.

“It got very hard to live day-to-day…but now we’re finally getting back on our feet a year and four months later.”

At the same time that the tax is being repealed, McLaren says her husband has secured a construction job, and they are able to move out of the shelter. 

Conner Rattray, 20, agrees with the decision to repeal the act. 

“I think it’s a good thing that will help make things more affordable,” said Rattray.

Rattray says the decision strengthens his support for Carney in the upcoming election, among other reasons. 

“[Carney] ran the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada and is doing the right thing with America,” said Rattray.

“It’s a good thing if it brings down prices,” said Tiffany Curtis, 28. 

Walter Wilson, 65, said he is happy to pay less at the pump and he believes a carbon tax is not the best way to address environmental issues. 

“We all need to contribute to the environment in our own way,” said Wilson. 

Unlike the other people interviewed, Brianna Brown, a 24-year-old student at Northern Lights College, says she hasn’t seen much of a change in prices. 

“I haven’t seen prices go down but I hope so,” said Brown.

Hailing from Jamaica, Brown has been in Fort St. John for four months and is studying business management at the college.

The British Columbia Utilities Commission is now set to observe retail pricing behaviours across the province and publish information to promote competitiveness and public confidence in the fuel market, ensuring companies are “passing on savings.”