Income tax fairer than gas tax

I wish to reveal up front that I own a home and a car, two possessions that in this community seem to attract an inordinate level of tax liability.

With regard to the latter, I have helped provide the provincial government with a payment of $1.3 billion stripped from ICBC and (illegally?) transferred to general revenue. This will, of course, be replaced through significantly higher premiums by all insured drivers in the province.

Last month, the government announced its intention to raise the transit tax on gasoline sold in Greater Victoria by 57 per cent for three reasons — because it can, because it had not done so since 2008 and because the money was needed to “grow the system.”

Urban transit is essential infrastructure for the community and the province.

This tax was originally introduced as a “temporary measure” to help pay for the 1994 Commonwealth Games (drivers again?).

For the record, provincial taxes on fuel now add up to 27.8 cents per litre. Note the carbon tax is currently 7.78 cents per litre, not 7.8 per cent as was indicated in the column. It’s due to rise significantly in future years.

Gasoline taxes might be easy, but they are not an acceptable way to pay for essential infrastructure. Enough is more than enough — surely income taxes are fairer.