BC business leaders strongly support billions in transit and transportation infrastructure spending and a provincial carbon tax, according to the latest BIV-Ipsos Reid survey.

Read comments (and make your own) below. 

From Business in Vancouver March 11-17, 2008; issue 959

Andrew Petrozzi

The survey revealed that 73% of respondents support the $14 billion transit and transportation plan recently announced by B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell. The project includes the extension of the region’s rapid transit lines, more capacity on existing lines and the purchase of 1,500 new energy-efficient buses.

“You don’t often get any kind of public policy decisions – especially ones that cost the amount of money this one did – with that level of support,” said Steve Mossop, president, western region, North America for Ipsos. “Traditionally, this group has been quite supportive of the [provincial] Liberal government, but to have only 14% opposed to a very contentious issue that has tax implications is pretty incredible.”

Mossop added that the number of comments submitted with the survey showed that the close to 200 survey respondents felt strongly about the issue.

The $2 billion Canada Line received the most support (80%) followed closely by a $1.1 billion upgrade to the Expo Line (76%) and the new $1.4 billion Evergreen Line (75%). The $2.8 billion UBC Line drew the lowest support (62%) and the most opposition (17%).

Almost 80% supported the $1.6 billion purchase of 1,500 new clean energy buses; 64% supported a new high-capacity rapid bus service for major routes in Kelowna, Victoria and Metro Vancouver costing $1.2 billion.

Among key Metro Vancouver transportation concerns identified by survey respondents were:

• gridlock (44%) – 40% said the Port Mann Bridge was the worst offender;
• stress caused by gridlock (51%);
• pollution from cars (44%);
• arriving on time for work (21%);
• arriving on time for events/activities (29%);
• goods movement (29%); and
• traffic’s impact on employee arrival times (21%).

“All these issues are touching a nerve,” said Mossop. “It goes deeper than just a minor inconvenience of getting to work 20 minutes later than you think should have.”

Meanwhile, British Columbia’s initiative to become the first North American jurisdiction to introduce a carbon tax had the support of 40% of survey respondents; 40% opposed it; 28% strongly opposed it.

“I can’t remember in polling history that we’ve done on federal or local issues where you have such strong support for what essentially is a tax,” Mossop said.

Knowing how carbon tax funds would be used boosted the approval rating for the tax among respondents:

• 71% support a carbon tax if the proceeds are invested in public transit;
• 65% support it if it funds tax breaks to reward fuel-efficient behaviour. Roughly three-fifths of respondents said the federal government should be responsibility for implementing a carbon tax. •

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40% support for carbon tax

Overall, would you support or oppose the implementation of a provincial carbon tax?

• Strongly support: 15%
• Somewhat support: 25%
• Neither support nor oppose: 14%
• Somewhat oppose: 12%
• Strongly oppose: 28%
• Don’t know: 6%

73% support for transit plan

Overall, would you support or oppose the provincial government implementing this transit and transportation plan?

• Strongly support: 41%
• Somewhat support: 32%
• Neither support nor oppose: 6%
• Somewhat oppose: 10%
• Strongly oppose: 4%
• Don’t know: 7%

Quotes from the poll:

Leave your own comment below. 

“Making changes in policies in order to help conserve the environment and air quality will not come free. It may also help make users rethink transportation choices as these costs will now be greater. The cost of such transportation should reflect the costs that it takes in order to help alleviate CO2 emissions and work toward a healthier air quality across Canada.”

“A carbon tax should be based on the heavy industrial users to offset the consumers who are taxed excessively.”

“If a carbon tax is used only for funding rapid transit (not buses) then it is acceptable to me.”

“The long-term cost of transit will certainly cost citizens more in a variety of taxes. That will in turn make Vancouver a more expensive city in which to live. I agree with basic transit and believe that riders should shoulder the majority of the cost. Subsidies can be offered to the poor and low-income families. Vancouver is fast becoming too costly for middle class retirees and young people starting their careers.”

“The tax needs to be user based with legitimate breaks for businesses rather than an across the board tax. Tax should be paid at the pump, with quarterly credits for legitimate, proven business use.”

“We already pay a carbon tax. The feds and the province tax gas like crazy. Just because you call it a carbon tax doesn't make it any better. The road taxes I pay on gas doesn't seem to be going to the roads. The transit taxes I pay don't seem to be helping the transit system. Lets not fool ourselves. Give the government a way to tax you and they will find a way to spent the money. … If we want a carbon tax why not tax all the hot air that is coming from Victoria!?”

“Greenhouse gas emissions are a critical aspect of global climate change and direct taxes are most likely the most effective way to use sound economic policy to help motivate people and businesses to curb emissions.”

“It will hurt professional truck drivers with little or no impact on people who (poorly) choose to commute from the Valley into the City.”

“All the debate you hear for the environment is usually just more CO2 getting blown around. People really change their behaviour only if it hits them hard in the wallet. Make gas $3 to $4 per litre and you'll see car pooling, switching to efficient vehicles and cycling.”

“I support a carbon tax as a means to changing behaviour. I don't think we can expect the environment to continue supporting and subsidizing personal and corporate practices and choices. The true cost of personal commuting and current business practices, i.e. inefficient use materials and resources, transporting goods and services over long distances, etc. needs to be reflected in the cost of buying goods and services. The question as to whether a carbon tax should be tax neutral is debatable. The initial goal should be shift taxes to support behaviour that has less impact on the environment. Whether this is sufficient to actually drive change, I think we'll need to wait and see.”

“I do not support another gas tax. Governments are collecting a lot more tax at the pump as the price of gas goes up. Our politicians need to put the gas tax towards its intended use and that is roads and transit and they could put some of it toward CO2 emissions. There should be incentives for environmentally safe products like hybrid vehicles. Why are we not seeing laws that ban gas lawn mowers and single cycle engines that put more emissions in the atmosphere than anything else? As a society we are grossly over taxed and if we took the money we waste on political favoritism we could support better transit. We cannot forget that it is the movement of goods by truck that need the roads and bridges. All goods we purchase move by truck so why is there such a movement to restrict the upgrading of our traffic routes. If Vancouver is to be a livable city we have to improve our transit and our truck routes.”

“Taxing doesn't necessarily change behaviours and the money is not always wisely spent.”

“I think additional taxes collected under a carbon tax will never make it into these wonderful green programs or transit. I hate how the government collects taxes at so many different levels and through so many different taxes. A carbon tax is just another example. The government can legislate mandatory cutbacks in CO2 levels at the personal and corporate levels. So why do we need another tax unless we are saying you can pollute, you just need to pay additional money to do it.”

“The last thing we need is a carbon tax. A carbon tax will stunt our economic growth and affect the poorest members of society the most. A carbon tax would be a flow through tax that would be added to the cost of all goods produced and consumed in B.C. It would only affect consumers because the purchasers of products are the only ones who pay taxes. Anyone who thinks that just industry should pay does not understand the fundamentals of economics.”

“We already pay far too many taxes and this is especially true when it comes to our cars. As far as I can see, this is just another cash grab for the government under the guise of global warming which more and more evidence is proving that it does not even exist.”

“Improving our air quality has to become a priority. Those businesses that are the heaviest contributors to poor air quality need to be held accountable and this can usually only be done through their pocketbooks. Corporations showing themselves to be good environmental stewards should be rewarded in some way.”

“A carbon tax which no doubt would be added to the price of gasoline penalizes those who can least afford it. The cost of Hybrid cars is currently out of the reach of the average person. A carbon tax should only be introduced when there are reasonably priced alternatives.”

“We are finally realizing that all the economic modeling of the past was wholly inaccurate as it never factored in the actual costs of producing and moving goods. Now that we know that we are destroying our ability to live on this planet such incidental costs as how much pollution a manufacturing plant generates is completely necessary to knowing the true cost of producing its goods. Furthermore the means of getting said goods to market also have a true cost that has too long been ignored. Our profit motive has blinded us to the real costs and the true profitability of our activities.”

“Can someone please show me a ton of carbon?”

“I can't help but feel that this is just another tax grab by our politicians. They should be implementing stronger environmental regulations for all vehicles that would result in far less air pollution rather than just looking for ways to increase taxes. Canada is a big place and rural residents do not have any other way that’s practical, to get to work. People need to drive cars to get to work, yet the big solution is to charge them more to do so. If all vehicles produced 20% or 30% less pollutants it seems to me we would all be farther ahead. The government should be spending money on research and allowing tax incentives for companies to create cleaner cars/trucks rather than looking for more money from the consumer.”

“A carbon tax could have both a carrot and stick effect on consumers -- encouraging more environmentally friendly transportation options, while discouraging the increased use of polluting fuel sources.”

“The premier should remember there is more to B.C. than Vancouver. Too much emphasis is being placed on Vancouver and very little to other parts of the province. Don’t forget. You may not need a big truck in Vancouver but you need one in Fort St. John.”

“Carbon Tax is an ineffective blunt instrument that will have a negative effect on the climate. The most efficient method of addressing climate change is to impose a cap-and-trade system with aggressive caps and rigorous offset standards. By imposing a revenue neutral carbon tax you are spending the money collected in the name of addressing climate change on the daily business of government - important work, but it has nothing to do with climate change. If you tax and earmark for climate change activities, at least you are using the money for what it was collected for, but I would argue that the government is not the most efficient allocator of capital for greenhouse gas mitigation.”

“All funds generated from carbon taxes should be used for public transit in the areas that the funds are received, reducing fares and increasing transit service in the areas that funds are raised. I would prefer to see direct linkage of how the funds collected will be put to use. Instead of a punitive tax, such as a carbon tax, I'd rather see tax breaks for business and industry to create new ‘clean’ industries and products. I’d rather see tax breaks for individuals, taking initiative for carbon reduction, as well as tax breaks on products determined to meet carbon reduction standards.”

“If taxes are implemented a portion of the revenue stream should go to the education of the general public. We should also get into the school system and educate the consumers of the future because this environmental change is going to take time. We need everyone to be involved. We all have an environmental impact, be it businesses or individuals, and we should all be educated on ways to reduce.”

“If we had better public transit, I'd sell my car and save money on the carbon tax. However, taxing citizens who drive cars makes sense only if an alternative form of reliable transportation is available.”

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