The BC NDP is attempting to have Bill 8, the government’s legislation to eliminate the provincial carbon tax, approved in a single day.
The NDP introduced the legislation this morning and asked that it be allowed to move through all stages and be passed by midnight.
Legislative speaker Raj Chouhan approved the request.
Conservative Peter Milobar of Kamloops told the legislature the bill is not urgent and MLAs need time to fully understand it.
Milobar says it’s a very technical bill that was not distributed to MLAs in time for them to fully understand it.
He recommends the legislature be given more time to debate Bill 8, and that the legislation be made retroactive to April 1.
Interim Green Party leader, Jeremy Valeriote, says his party is not satisfied the bill requires urgent approval and the Greens did not support the attempt to deal with in a single day.
Valeriote says they need time to get answers about how big polluters will pay, and the government should take the time to bring forward well thought out legislation.
The Province notified fuel sellers and natural gas retailers earlier this month to make every effort to stop collecting the tax from consumers as of April 1st.
The government says the reduction of the tax to $0 is an immediate step to align the province’s carbon tax rate with the new federal carbon tax rate.
The elimination of the carbon tax removes approximately 17 cents per litre off the cost of fuel and approximately 15 cents per cubic metre for natural gas.
The government says the climate action tax credit will also be cancelled, with the final payment will be distributed in April.
The NDP says once the carbon tax is removed, the province will continue to ensure big industrial emitters pay their fair share through the output-based carbon pricing system.
