Cariboo Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson has been accused of hypocrisy by Langford-Juan de Fuca MLA Ravi Parmar.
The B.C. United, formerly Liberal, MLA was criticized alongside B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon in an email sent to newsrooms on Friday, Dec. 1. Parmar, an NDP MLA, said that Falcon and Doerkson’s position on B.C.’s carbon tax is hypocritical and has changed in an effort to court supporters.
“For 15 years we have had Kevin Falcon proudly support the carbon tax. Four months ago he was chatting with CHEK TV in Victoria and said, and I quote, ‘I was always proud to be a part of a government that brought in North America’s first revenue-neutral carbon tax’,” Parmar said. “We’ve seen the Conservatives make announcements on axing the tax and Kevin has changed his tune. Now he’s changed his position entirely on that issue because he’s losing support to the Conservatives.”
Doerkson said he was surprised that Parmar and the NDP are willing to talk about the carbon tax, but welcomed the opportunity. He said the tax has become punitive and that B.C.’s emissions are still rising, despite the tax.
READ MORE: NDP aims to increase B.C. carbon tax
“I think there is a reason for us to invest in the environment and a reason for us to try and reduce these emissions. The problem is this tax is no longer doing either of those things,” Doerkson said.
When Falcon and other members of the Liberal Government in 2008 originally introduced the carbon tax, Doerkson noted he was not a politician and had no hand in its passing. At the time he said Falcon had wanted the carbon tax to be capped at $30 per tonne of greenhouse gasses. Since the NDP replaced the Liberals in 2017, Doerkson said that the cap has been raised to $65 per tonne on Jan. 1, 2023, and that further hikes have been proposed.
Doerkson said that he and B.C. United as a whole opposes the expansion of the carbon tax beyond the original $30 cap. He also noted the tax was originally intended to be invested into environmental programs that would cut down on further carbon emissions. Now however Doerkson said the carbon tax goes into the government’s general coffers.
“The NDP is aiming for $170 per tonne carbon tax by 2030 which is just frankly way out of line. What we’re seeing now is residents, particularly in rural B.C. who are paying a larger share of this because of the cost of heating and diesel,” Doerkson said. “We are seeing residents paying more on the carbon tax for their natural gas bill than they are paying for their natural gas.”
To counter this Doerkson said he and Falcon have pledged to remove the carbon tax from fuels used in agriculture or to heat homes.
Elected in a recent by-election in June, Parmar said he found his feet in the recent fall legislative session. He noted that the dynamics of the legislature have changed with the formation of the B.C. Conservative party, represented by Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad and Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman, who defected from B.C. United in September.
Parmar accused Falcon and Doerkson of being willing to say anything to be elected. He believes it’s important that politicians who ask for people’s votes stand behind their values and principles, which is why he chose to call the MLAs of B.C. United out.
“I wanted to share with people in the Cariboo, Prince George and all across northern and interior British Columbia where you have BC United MLAs that you have a leader of a political party who once said he supported (the carbon tax) and now not so much,” Parmar said. “As we head towards the next election for British Columbians to know that is what Kevin Falcon is. A hypocrite and something his MLAs will now have to answer for.”
Parmar acknowledged that B.C. United’s voters may support cutting or reducing the carbon tax. Still, he believes it remains one of the province’s best tools to encourage a reduction in fossil fuel emissions.
“What we do with the carbon tax is give rebates back to people. People in 100 Mile House will know this time last year they received $250 in a rebate and we doubled that this year so they receive $500 a year if they’re a single person. If you’re a family of four you’re receiving $900 in your pocket from this rebate,” Parmar said.
With elections expected in October of 2024, Doerkson said many politicians like Parmar are now in election mode. At the end of the day, he said that the government’s focus should be on helping British Columbians today, not accusing Falcon of hypocrisy.
“The notion that the NDP has simply dug in their heels and not considered even freezing the carbon tax, just for a minute while we get through this affordability crisis, is appalling,” Doerkson said. “How has (Kevin Falcon) changed his mind? He said freeze it at $30 and now he’s saying don’t raise it to $170.
“In the press release Mr. Parmar suggests Kevin is electioneering and it’s laughable because this press release has been sent to every region in the province. He’s singled out every BC United MLA which is great because it gives us an opportunity to talk about the mismanagement of what the carbon tax has become.”
