Prime Minister John Horgan encourages motorists in British Columbia to use alternative transportation and “think before” driving amid record fuel prices.
Analysts expect the fuel to cost $2,339 per liter at Metro Vancouver gas stations by Sunday.
Horgan says he worries more about the inflationary effects on things like food prices than about the cost of gas at the pump.
“We’re going to have measures in place to help people cut costs,” Horgan said.
“But now I encourage people to think before you hop in the car. Do you need to make that trip? Can you do it with a neighbor or someone passing by?”
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Liberals in British Columbia have called for the province to suspend the gas tax and increase the tax credit for climate action
Liberals in British Columbia have called on the provincial government to temporarily suspend regional gas taxes and import taxes on gas from Alberta while creating a one-time payment for the Climate Action Tax Credit.
Horgan says he does not plan to freeze the gas tax to support drivers.
The county was able to convince ICBC to offer a $110 discount to all soon-to-be drivers.
“You can’t solve this problem with a penny or two here, you can solve it by finding different ways to navigate what they’re doing,” Horgan said.
An analysis of a gas pump breakout in Alberta found that 96 percent of the savings were passed on to drivers, meaning drivers saved about 12 or 13 cents per liter.
Liberal leader Kevin Falcone spent part of Friday talking to drivers at a gas station in Surrey.
In an interview, he told Global News that the county may require gas companies to pass on any tax savings to the driver.
“The county can tell companies we expect you to do this and not make them a source of income,” Falcone said.
“There is a lot of room for the government to provide assistance to drivers.”
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