News Release - June 29, 2008

The Campbell government has cut special deals with big polluters who will not have to pay the fuel tax, while ordinary consumers will be hit at the pump starting on Canada Day, New Democrat energy critic John Horgan said today.

"Big polluters are being let off the hook, while ordinary British Columbians have to pay the fuel tax.  It's one story for the B.C. Liberals' big corporate friends, and another for ordinary British Columbians," said Horgan, the MLA for Malahat-Juan de Fuca.

Horgan noted that the Campbell government has exempted specific industries from paying the fuel tax, including cruise ships, aluminum smelting, and lead smelting.

"People who have no alternatives are going to be hit with this tax, while Alcan, the second-largest greenhouse gas polluter in B.C., won't have to pay any tax on emissions for the coal they use," said Horgan.

Alcan, which is the second-largest greenhouse gas emitter in B.C., will not have to pay the fuel tax on coke and coal used to produce aluminum.  Teck Cominco, the Campbell Liberals' biggest donor and one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in B.C., will also be exempt from paying the tax on coal and coke used at their zinc smelter.

Horgan also said the tax is unfair the forest industry and B.C. farmers.

"There will be a fuel tax on shipping B.C. logs to B.C. mills, but not for shipping our raw logs out of the province.  If an organic farmer wants to take their produce to a local market they will pay the tax, but there's no fuel tax for transporting produce from other parts of the world to B.C.," said Horgan.

The cruise industry has stated that they managed to get an exemption from paying the fuel tax after meeting with top government officials.

"It's all good for big industries that can use their lobbying power to get special deals from the Campbell government, but what about ordinary British Columbians?  Rather than cutting deals with big polluters, Gordon Campbell should axe the gas tax and start providing real alternatives for British Columbians," said Horgan.

Carole James and the New Democrats point out that Campbell's fuel tax will have almost no effect on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and are advocating measures for effective action to fight climate change.  That includes tough regulation on large polluters and expanded transit.

The New Democrats will continue to take their Axe the Gas Tax campaign around the province in the coming days. The online petition is at http://www.axethegastax.ca/

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Contact: Glen Sanford 250.213.5942