The Canadian Press

B.C. Liberal government introduces promised carbon tax legislation

Mon Apr 28, 6:27 PM

By The Canadian Press

VICTORIA - The public galleries of the B.C. legislature were packed with climate change experts and green advocates Monday for the introduction of the province's Carbon Tax Act.

The idea was originally announced in the February budget, but the bill will give it legislative effect.

Starting Canada Day the tax will increase the cost of gasoline by nearly 2.5 cents per litre, and by 2012 it will add an extra 7.24 cents a litre.

The tax will eventually bring in $1.85 billion annually, but the provincial government insists it will be revenue neutral and none of the money will be used to pay for general programs.

The extra burden from the carbon tax is to be offset in the first year by personal and corporate income tax cuts and a $100 rebate to every adult and child in the province.

Among those on hand for the introduction of Bill 37 were representatives of the B.C. branch of the Sierra Club, the David Suzuki Foundation and the Western Canada Wilderness Committee.

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