The provincial New Democratic Party is asking British Columbians to donate their new gas tax rebate cheques toward the party's anti-gas tax campaign, which has some people calling the party hypocritical.
The NDP launched an "axe the gas tax" campaign this week, saying the Liberal party's new 2.4-cent-per-litre carbon tax, which takes effect July 1st, should be scrapped because it unfairly targets motorists instead of industry.
Party members lined the streets of various B.C. communities this week in an attempt to win support of their campaign. The campaign was launched as the provincial government began mailing out its $100 carbon tax rebate cheques to B.C. residents.
NDP members are expected to continue the campaign with a rally in Prince George on Thursday.
Gas prices have increased by more than 30 cents per litre in four months, and are projected to rise above $1.50 per litre this summer.
Motorists are fuming over rising gas prices ahead of the summer vacation season, and some critics say the NDP is looking to capitalize on the issue, since the party has supported the idea of a carbon tax in the past.
Andrew Weaver, a Nobel-prize winning climate scientist at the University of Victoria, says the NDP anti-gas tax campaign is political opportunism at its worst.
"Then along comes an opposition party that say's well we have to have a policy, but we don't, so let's make up a policy to score some cheap political points and oppose it for the sake of opposing it," he said.
"I find that objectionable."
The NDP has said it is in favour of a carbon tax that would be applied to refineries, but not one that is applied to consumers.
NDP leader Carole James says the party has been both up front and consistent in regards to its stance on the cap and trade approach. The cap and trade system places a limit on all emitters of green house gases, while allowing them to 'trade' extra emissions credits with each other.
But B.C. Finance Minister Colin Hansen agreed that the NDP is being hypocritical.
"I think it is totally disingenuous when they profess to be in favour of a carbon tax and then go out and launch a campaign to oppose the carbon tax," he said.
A representative of B.C.'s environmental community was also critical of the NDP's stance on the carbon tax.
"I'm incredibly disappointed that we're choosing to play politics over the environment," said Susan Howatt, outreach director of the Sierra Club of B.C. "If the NDP doesn't understand that, then they're missing the boat."
Newly appointed federal Conservative cabinet minister James Moore already voiced his opinion on the issue, saying the provincial government failed to consult with voters, First Nations or industry on the issue.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jim Beatty and files from The Canadian Press
