Some B.C. drivers may not get ICBC gas rebate cheques until the summer
Posted May 17, 2022 7:34 am.
Last Updated July 5, 2022 11:01 am.
The rollout of ICBC gas rebate cheques appear to have been slowed down by a speed bump. The premier promised in March that everyone would have their roughly $110 rebate by May or June, but now the public insurer says it expects everyone to have their cheques mailed to them by the end of July.
The public insurer says drivers who are registered for direct deposit with them will likely get their money this month. You can sign up for direct deposit at icbc.com or via your insurance broker.
If you used a credit card to pay for your insurance, you’ll get it between mid-May and June. If you used any other method, including cash, debit or a payment plan, cheques will be rolled out next month with the goal that everyone has their money by the end of July.
However, it’s unclear how far that money will go by then as gas prices in Metro Vancouver remain the highest in North America.
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The topic of gas prices was not lost on newly minted BC Liberal Leader and official Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon. On Monday, he slammed the province and premier repeatedly for its handling of what’s been happening at the pumps.
“What we’ve asked is that there be a temporary waiver of the provincial gas taxes that are currently in place to provide some relief for motorists. This is something that was done in Alberta, and it has been done successfully. It did not result, as the NDP always like to say that the gas companies, the downstream companies will take up space, they didn’t,” Falcon said.
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Falcon also took issue with the province spending $789 million to revamp the Royal BC Museum, which he calls a “vanity project.” Premier John Horgan shot back at Falcon and accused him of being confused about annual operating budgets and the long-term capital spending budget.
“He’s completely out of touch with how people are feeling. Of course, I understand the difference between a capital and an operating budget… I’m never going to take lessons on budgeting from the NDP government, I can assure you that. But the issue is how is it possible that at a time when people really are struggling and really asking for relief, that the premier thinks that that’s the right time to rollout this billion-dollar vanity project?”
The upgrades to the museum would take years and it wouldn’t be open to the public until 2030.
Read more: Royal B.C. Museum starts decolonization of galleries this month, says acting CEO
“The fact that prices keep going up like this is a real shock to families and they need relief, and they need it now. Not words, not promises, not rhetoric, not press releases, not billion-dollar vanity museum announcements but action.”
The BC Green Party is also dumping on the NDP and calling for the province to make public transit free for the next four months to help people right now.
British Columbians need immediate relief from the high costs of living. #FreeTransit for the summer is a concrete way to reduce expenses.
Premier @jjhorgan could take cars off the road and help British Columbians save up to $724 over the next 4 months. 1/ #bcpoli #GasPrices pic.twitter.com/QQVLUiqSMi
— Sonia Furstenau (@SoniaFurstenau) May 16, 2022
“British Columbians need immediate relief from the high costs of living. Free transit for the summer is a concrete way to reduce expenses,” says Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau.
“Premier Horgan said that people should take the bus because gas prices are out of reach. He can take an important step today to help British Columbians save money and take cars off of the road.”
The Greens says an average monthly transit pass costs between $85 to $181 and says by making transit free this summer, people could potentially save up to $724 over the next four months.
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“We recognize that for many British Columbians, an efficient transit network is not an option. This government has had five years to invest in expanding public transit around the province. Instead, over, and over we see the B.C. NDP promise but fail to be proactive in addressing affordability and climate change,” the Green Party wrote in a release.
“This government has chosen to continue subsidizing oil and gas companies to the tune of $1.3 billion even though they are experiencing record breaking profits from rising gas prices at the expense of British Columbians. A government shows you its priorities by where it spends its money. It’s time to prioritize the people of B.C..”
The provincial government has set aside $395 million to give to drivers — both personal and commercial — and commercial drivers get a bit more money, because the premier says, their expenses are usually higher.
