BCGEU Boss Says Carbon Tax Places Unfair Burden On Rural BC

Wednesday, February 27, 2008 03:59 AM

Prince George, B.C. - The President of the 60,000 strong British Columbia Government Employees Union , George Heyman, ( in photo at right, ) says he would have handled the tackling of the green house gas emissions differently than the provincial government.

Heyman says instead of handing out a hundred dollas to everyone, the Province should have offered big rebates and tax incentives to those who are prepared to purchase a hybrid vehicle, those who want to upgrade the insulation on their home and those who want to upgrade to an energy efficient fridge.

"As the carbon tax is being brought in it creates an unlevel playfield for those who live in the central and Northern parts of the province. Sending everyone a $100 dollar check to residents in the rural part of the province does little to offset the cost of the fuel increase."

Workers in the rural parts of this province he says need a vehicle to sometimes go 100 kilometers to work, in very difficult driving conditions.

Heyman says that is not the case in the lower mainland where ownership is driven by other factors "People own SUV’s because it is popular to have one, not that they need to have one to get around”.

He says the fuel tax will create an added hardship for the people in the rural regions who already are facing a down turn in the economy. The lower mainland has been buoyed by the real estate market Heyman says and they have the feeling that the economy is okay as opposed to the rural parts where the economy is struggling, especially in the forest sector.

Heyman said after getting off to a very shaky start, the Province has realized the provincial workers are important to this province. "We have enjoyed a labour peace in this province for awhile. I think that the present government realized that when you go after Labour in the manner that they originally did when they came to power, the average voter will say that’s too much and they will react. I think the government now realizes that."

Heyman was on a tour of this part of the province which is home to over 550 bargaining units.

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Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 03:59 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: acrider54 on February 27 2008 5:59 AM

No doubt! We in the Interior will be subsidizing the Lower mainland once again. Unfortunatley we have to heat our homes here. I feel sorry for the pensioners who are living on fixed incomes, the single mom, the minimum wage earners.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on February 27 2008 7:42 AM

"..Heyman was on a tour of this part of the province..."

Nice of Heyman to stop by and tell everyone what we should be doing. Good bye, have a nice trip.

I wonder how much money Heyman picked up from the 550 union units that have to pay this southerner for protection?

Posted by: bohemian on February 27 2008 8:05 AM

How about a huge rebate to those prepared NOT to buy another car? Think of all the energy that goes into manufacturing and transporting a new vehicle.

And while adding insulation is good, How about a rebate for those who choose to live in a smaller house? The sizes of houses we build today are crazy and will be massive energy drains for the next 100 years or more.

Posted by: realitysetsin on February 27 2008 8:12 AM

Carbon tax? It's just a tax, pure and simple. They call it a carbon tax to make it a little more palatable that is all.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on February 27 2008 9:01 AM

We ARE subsidizing the lower mainland, and don't think for one second the guru's in Victoria don't know that!
Unfortunately,for the people of the north,there is a not a damn thing we can do about it!
But never mind,the tax grabbing money grubbers from the south are pretty sure we will all forget about shortly,and we usually do!
We really need to make some noise about this scam!
Our local government reps and those down south as well,need their faces ripped off everytime they stick their gutless,over paid heads out the door!
What else do we have to fight back with?

Posted by: He speaks on February 27 2008 11:57 AM

Carbon Tax - there must have been a mandate to justify this tax. We the people have to demand that every cent of this tax money collected goes to what was mandated. Instead of it being lost in the general shuffle.

Posted by: lostfaith on February 27 2008 12:54 PM

You gotta love living in a parliamentary dictatorship, don't ya?

Posted by: maritimer on February 27 2008 1:08 PM

A carbon tax is a great idea in a place where people actually have the choice of taking public transit. Not many of us within the PG city limits have the option of taking the bus to work because the service is so poor. I would if I could, but I can't, unless I want to get to work 2.5 hrs late and leave 1.5 hrs early.
Perhaps taxing the areas that have access to adequate public transit would be fair. And then giving that money to municipalities that have substandard transit systems (like PG). That could make a difference.
The way things are now, putting more tax on an Essential Service will not benefit me in anyway, as I have no other option. I'm sure I won't even notice the income tax differences they promise. But I sure would notice it if I could take the bus to work.

Posted by: NMG on February 27 2008 1:28 PM

"Workers in the rural parts of this province he says need a vehicle to sometimes go 100 kilometers to work, in very difficult driving conditions. Heyman says that is not the case in the lower mainland where ownership is driven by other factors . . . People own SUV�s because it is popular to have one, not that they need to have one to get around�

Yeah, nobody in Prince George buys an SUV because it's popular to have one, LOL :)

Posted by: Becca on February 27 2008 4:47 PM

I agree this is a cash grab and it truely affects those who drive for a living. My job (community health) requires me to drive my own car from home to home. Yes, I get a mileage rate of .49 but this does not cover a tank of gas at 1.16 a week, wear and tear.Nor does it cover the amount of kms I put on my car daily driving from PG to out lining areas. I have no alternatives in my job and yes some one will need to do my job even if I do not. Where are the rebates or tax cuts for us. Sure I would like to own a hybird but with the cost of driving and payment I can not afford it!

Posted by: Harbinger on February 27 2008 5:45 PM

How about a mega-carbon tax on diamonds? They are purchased by the rich and not so rich and are the ultimate in carbon. They don't get no carboner than that.

Posted by: wynne62 on February 27 2008 10:21 PM

I really believe that this is another tax grab for the coast. I don't have the option of taking the transit system to and from work, because in Quesnel the bus only runs for certain hours. Also I want to know if people that don't drive and don't own a vehicle and or don't pay any utilities because they live in a basement suite or other rental, Do they still qualify for the rebate? Where is the fairness in this deal? It will cost me a hell of a pile more than $100 every year to drive my small car back and forth to work.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on February 28 2008 8:21 AM

Much of what this so called "carbon tax",
aka money grab is about,is based on how things are done down on the lower mainland.
and also,how the provincial government would LIKE it to be done!
Consider the difference in the winter weather itself and there is no way this tax is fair!
It's a major rip off by those in power, and they SHOULD be held accountable in the next provincial election.
Only time will tell.
Notice how quickly after the announcement people like Gordon Campbell pulled their horns and disappeared? Notice how he kept a very low profile even when Carole Taylor was trying to justify this scam?
Old trick.
Make the announcement,say a few upbeat things,and then hide until we get over being pissed at them!
Between now and 2010,people are going to learn a lot about the liberal party here in B.C.and none of it is going to good!
Wait for it!