What’s going to change in B.C. this year?

As British Columbians ring in the new year, a number of changes are coming to the province that are worth taking note of.

Big day in provincial politics

The big date in B.C. policitics that matters this year is Oct. 19.

The provincial election to be held on this date will be the first general election conducted under the modernized Election Act and will feature new voting technology, according to Elections BC.

The changes, including using electronic tabulators to count paper ballots, have successfully been used in B.C.’s last four provincial by-elections.

In November, the BC NDP was leading by about 20 per cent in a survey conducted by Abacus Data. The BC Conservatives followed, with BC United taking up the third spot.

Gas prices expected to average slightly lower

At the pumps, several factors, like refinery issues and the weather, have the potential to push prices up. However, Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, tells CityNews he’s optimistic.

“Overall, if you take out the highs and lows, I think we’re going to average, in 2024, a little bit lower than what we averaged in 2023,” De Haan said.

He says there may be brief moments when the price for a litre of regular will creep up past the two dollar mark, but he doesn’t anticipate that being a trend, nor does he expect this to be a record-setting year.

“Back in 2022, we saw the average hit $2.40 a litre, some stations were hitting $2.40. But I don’t think we’re going to see a repeat of that.”

Transit tweaks to meet demand

To ensure it’s meeting the needs of its passengers, TransLink says it will be adjusting some of its bus services around Metro Vancouver beginning in January.

Included in these adjustments is the launch of its new R6 RapidBus between Surrey and Delta, which is intended to bring more reliable service to the Scott Road corridor.

TransLink claims the new bus will make service up to 20 per cent faster than the current, local bus service.

TransLink says it will also be adjusting service on twelve other bus routes across the region to reduce overcrowding.

And while it won’t be ready for 2024, TransLink’s Mark V SkyTrain will continue its testing at the company’s Burnaby facility, in preparation for it to replace the current trains in 2027.

Tax hikes, some relief in store

It’s a mixed bag of good and bad news for taxpayers in Vancouver and across B.C. this year.

In Vancouver, property owners can expect a tax hike of 7.5 per cent, according to the city’s 2024 budget. This hike will account for budget increases for infrastructure renewal, police services and other city services.

Provincially, there will be some good news for anyone receiving the province’s climate action tax credit. One of four payments will be paid out in January.

B.C.’s carbon tax is set to rise in April, costing 17 cents per litre of gas, 21 cents per litre of diesel and 15 cents per cubic metre of natural gas.

According to a report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, this could cost the average household between $377 and $911 in 2024, after rebates.

For a couple in B.C. with a Dodge Caravan and Ford F-150, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation says the carbon tax hike could cost them about $1,124 in 2024. That’s if they fill up their minivan once a week and truck every two weeks.

Nationally, the federal government will be removing GST from “purpose-built rental housing,” and psychotherapy and counselling therapy.

The feds are also raising the mandatory Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance contributions in 2024, costing workers up to $347.

Beginning in April, alcohol taxes will also increase by 4.7 per cent nationally, costing taxpayers about $100 million, the taxpayers foundation states.

Vancouver residents to pay more, to play more

Finally, decisions made by Vancouver’s Parks Board in November will see fee increases for certain recreational services in 2024.

The recommended increases range from four to 13 per cent. They will apply to Vancouver-Park-Board-run golf courses, pitch and putt, recreation services, parking, special events and film, the Burrard Marina, and attractions, like the Stanley Park Train, VanDusen Botanical Garden, and the Bloedel Conservatory.

Parking, for example, is recommended to go up by 13 per cent on average, while recreation services is set to increase by an average of six per cent.

The Vancouver Park Board says the changes are expected to generate around $5.44 million of incremental revenue next year.

-With files from Hana Mae Nassar and Sonia Aslam