Getting hosed at the pump

Photo: Burnaby Now

B.C. drivers are getting hosed at the gas pump, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation says.

The CTF released its 21st annual Gas Tax Honesty Day report Thursday, to show just how much of each litre goes to tax.

“B.C. drivers are being taken for a ride by politicians who are using them like tax-grab ATMs,” said CTF director Kris Sims. “Metro Vancouver drivers will be paying 54 cents in taxes per litre of gasoline this summer.”

Drivers in Metro Vancouver and in Victoria’s capital region pay six different taxes to three levels of government, while the rest of B.C. forks out five different gasoline taxes.

The CTF called for the reduction of Metro Vancouver's TransLink tax to 10 cents per litre, and elimination of GST paid on top of the other taxes, creating a tax on a tax.

Drivers in Vancouver are currently paying 168.9 cents a litre for gasoline. In Kelowna, the price is 139.9.

Across the line in Washington state, Seattle residents pay the equivalent of about $1.18 CAD.

“Politicians say they care about these record-breaking gasoline prices, while they block pipelines and jack up taxes,” said Sims. “British Columbians are planning their summer road trips to places like the Island and up north, and the Kootenays, but with these gas prices they might not be able to afford it.”