Re: “End of carbon tax leaves $1.5B hole in B.C. budget,” March 20.

The article substantially underestimates the cost of killing the carbon tax by $524 million. The article used the 2024-25 carbon tax revenue of $2.558 billion, but the removal of the tax credit affects the 2025-26 budget year which starts on April 1. The B.C. budget forecasted carbon tax revenues of $3.046 billion for 2025-26 — almost half a billion higher.

The 2025-26 budget estimates the Climate Action Tax Credit at $1.025 billion. This tax credit more than off-set the carbon tax for lower income British Columbians and will disappear with the killing of the tax credit.

Thus, the actual cost of killing the carbon tax will be $3.046 billion minus $1.025 billion, or $2.024 billion.

If Peter Milobar is correct in that the industrial carbon pricing program (the only aspect of the carbon tax expected to continue) only collects about $200 million — the actual loss of provincial revenues will be $1.824 billion, which will hike the projected 2025-26 deficit from $10.9 billion to an untenable $12.7 billion.

If Eby doesn’t cancel the Climate Action Tax Credit, the cost of killing the carbon tax will be over $4 billion, driving the deficit to $13.8 billion.

It’s the last thing B.C. can afford to do when we are facing unprecedented economic sabotage from the Trump administration when provincial government assistance to those negatively affected may be critical.

Don Scott

former budget analyst

Victoria

I am a Tesla owner, and I am deeply concerned by the growing hostility toward Teslas and Tesla drivers.

In recent months, I have experienced aggressive driving behaviours and threatening gestures simply because I drive an electric vehicle made by Tesla. Even more troubling, reports of vandalism targeting Teslas are on the rise.

Please, Tesla owners are not the enemy. They are everyday people who purchased their vehicles out of a desire for energy efficiency, an interest in advancing sustainable technology, and for the sheer fun that Tesla driving presents.

Owning a Tesla does not make someone a symbol of a political viewpoint or a target for retribution. We made a personal decision to drive a Tesla well before politics became entangled in the brand’s identity.

It is understandable that people feel frustration and even........

© Times Colonist