News Release - February 20, 2008
VICTORIA - Tuesday's provincial budget unfairly targets rural British Columbia, with the proceeds going directly into the pockets of B.C. Liberal donors in the oil and gas sector, Opposition energy critic John Horgan says.
The Campbell government's gas tax will hit rural British Columbians especially hard, said Horgan, because they have no alternative transportation and no way of increasing the efficiency of their homes.
"The finance minister says she wants British Columbians to find other ways of getting to work," said Horgan, the MLA for Malahat - Juan de Fuca. "Try telling that to working people who have to get to work before the busses start running - if there are busses.
"Walking, biking or public transportation might be an option for folks in greater Vancouver or Victoria, but it's less feasible for people in Prince George or Kamloops or Shawnigan Lake. Those people have no choice but to pay higher and higher prices for gasoline."
For northern British Columbians, adding efficiency to their homes is something most did years ago.
"They're left with two options: pay through the nose or shiver in the dark. The Campbell government is out of touch with the needs of rural B.C."
Most galling, Horgan says, is that the money being sucked out of the pockets or rural B.C. is going straight into the coffers of big oil and gas companies.
"These companies are already making record profits, yet the Campbell government wants to give them even larger subsidies," Horgan said.
"So the government is taking money out of wallets of rural and suburban British Columbians, and putting into the bank accounts of big oil. British Columbians with no transit options are getting gouged and the corporate donors of the B.C. Liberals are the ones benefiting."
- 30 -
