British Columbia's government is claiming this will be one of the most comprehensive consumer-based carbon taxes in the world, including: gasoline, diesel, natural gas, coal, propane, and home heating fuel. When the tax was introduced last week, Finance Minister Carole Taylor said, "We have to find a way that we can work towards improving our environment, but at the same time do it in a way that keeps our economy strong." The budget she presented commits $1 billion over four years to fight climate change, in addition to the carbon tax. "This is an important turning point for British Columbia and we think for Canada," she added, likening the climate-change budget measures as a "social movement." From an article in The Vancouver Sun: Taylor said the new carbon tax will begin July 1, starting at a rate that will have drivers paying about an extra 2.4 cents per litre of gasoline at the pumps. If you drive a Prius hybrid, the government estimates the new tax will cost you about $20 extra per year. If you have a Dodge Ram pickup truck, that number will be closer to $68 it says. The tax will then increase each year after that until 2012, reaching a final price of about 7.2 cents per litre at the pumps.
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