Beyond the Ballot: Removal of BC consumer carbon tax a ‘step in the right direction’

It is less than a month until the 2025 federal election is set to take place, and the campaign trail is at the top of former MLA Renee Merrifield’s and NowMedia video host Jim Csek's minds.

During their weekly show, the duo touched on several topics, but mainly focused on the upcoming federal election.

First up on the batting order was the elimination of the BC carbon tax after the provincial government went into the early hours of Tuesday morning before voting on legislation to drop the rate to $0.

While Merrifield pointed out that there are still other provincial taxes on gas and that British Columbians will still see higher prices, she said that dropping the rate of the carbon tax to $0 is “one step in the right direction for consumers.”

After touching on the removal of the tax, Merrifield and Csek dove right into the upcoming federal election and began by discussing the controversy surrounding Markham-Unionville Liberal MP Paul Chiang.

The MP was recently in hot water after comments he made in January about conservative candidate Joe Tay. Chiang said at a conference that people could hand Tay over to the Chinese consulate to claim the bounty that is on Tay.

After Chiang's comments came to light, there were calls for Prime Minister Mark Carney to fire Chiang. Carney refused, but Chiang resigned earlier this week in what Merrifield called “a lost leadership move” for Carney.

“What this really showed to Canadians is that Carney is not going to stand up to China,” said Merrifield.

The duo then discussed the Conservatives' proposed policy that any person or business that sells an asset will pay no capital gains tax when they reinvest the proceeds in Canada. The tax cut would be available until the end of 2026 unless it creates an economic boom, in which case it would then be made permanent.

“I actually was talking with some business people that are both Canadian (and American) and they were saying, with this policy, that would absolutely be a reason for them to keep their money in Canada and to see it go farther and faster,” explained Merrifield.

“So I think this is a huge move. I think that if this is in earnest, it will be a game changer, for Canada's economy in the short term, but also in the long term, because Pierre promised to make it permanent if it's successful.”

The duo also touched on the following topics in their 40-minute conversation:

• The BC government's appointment of Dr. Penny Ballem to lead an efficiency review of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).
• Are the federal Liberals capitalizing on the fear created by Donald Trump?
• Canada needs to find ways to improve the manufacturing sector and diversify its exportation of natural resources.
• Carney’s refusal to repeal Bill C-69.
• The possibility of the provincial government flying healthcare workers to emergency rooms experiencing frequent closures.
• BC should have a comprehensive forestry plan to manage the forest and prevent wildfires.

Click the above video to hear what the duo had to say on the topics mentioned above and tune in on April 28 for special coverage of the election day.