B.C. NDP Leader David Eby has promised his party, if re-elected, would temporarily give drivers a brake at the pumps, cutting provincial taxes by 10 cents a litre on gas and diesel. Another NDP government would also empower the B.C. Utilities Commission to ensure companies don’t price gauge, Eby said, pointing to “that extra, secret markup that for some reason only British Columbians pay.” “Our utilities commission will have the authority to order them to actually charge the price that the gasoline costs,” he added. Eby says it will save families in Surrey with two cars $1,100 a year. “British Columbians will save about $20 on an average fill up,” the NDP leader said Thursday. In response, the B.C. Conservatives pointed to the Eby’s 2022 campaign, when he promised families a $1,000 grocery rebate only to cancel that plan shortly after getting elected. His finance minister at the time blamed economic headwinds related to the tumultuous Donald Trump presidency. “I am sorry but I think that British Columbians do not trust him,” said Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson Thursday. “Just two years ago, there were promises made for $1,000 of relief for families and to homes and to people in this province, and he failed to deliver that—and I think he needs to answer to that.” Eby defended the decision to cancel the grocery rebate Thursday. “Circumstances changed. We needed to support British Columbians, and that was the decision that we made,” he said. The gas tax promise is targeting votes in battleground Surrey in particular, said political scientist Hamish Telford, noting it’s home to 10 ridings largely up for grabs—and lots of drivers “It’s not only commuters in Surrey, Surrey is the headquarters of—the capital, if you will—of our trucking and taxi industry,” said Telford. Eby said the proposed tax cut would cost the government $250 million in lost revenue.
