Though retiring from politics, member of the legislative assembly for West Vancouver – Sea to Sky Jordan Sturdy isn't ready to be full-time on his Pemberton farm just yet.
First, he is making his voice heard on a few Sea to Sky Corridor chestnuts that get his constituents riled up.
The one that is sure to get new and long-time locals most in a tizzy is the topic of gas prices in the corridor.
"Drivers filling up in Metro Vancouver pay the TransLink fuel levy, which goes to fund public transportation in Metro Vancouver. Drivers in the Sea to Sky Corridor do not pay this levy; we do not have a regional transportation system connecting our communities and Metro Vancouver. We, therefore, have a lower tax burden per litre of gas than Metro Vancouver drivers," said Sturdy in his emailed newsletter, noting that despite this lower burden, we often pay more to fuel up.
Sturdy points to the data collected and published by the BC Utilities Commission in 2021, which found what local drivers already know.
"Although taxes are roughly consistent among comparator cities, an exception to this is Squamish, where pump prices are similar to nearby cities despite having lower tax rates," the report reads.
The report also confirms that "retail prices at gas stations in Squamish appear to be somewhat less responsive to changes in the wholesale price."
(The report also notes that while Squamish has a slightly higher average monthly retail price at stations for regular gasoline, there's a lower average monthly retail price for diesel.)
Sturdy ultimately surmises that "Sea to Sky drivers are padding retailers’ margins."
He also points to the B.C. Utilities Commission’s (BCUC) March 2024 report on B.C.’s Retail Fuel Market, which concluded that "the geographic proximity of Whistler and Squamish to Metro Vancouver resulted in these retailers forming a single larger market."
Sturdy has put out calls to action in response to the situation.
First, he wants the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation to direct the British Columbia Utilities Commission to put together a submission to the Canadian Competition Bureau over the issue.
"It may all come to naught, and maybe the Competition Bureau will say, 'Oh, well, you know, you need more competition. That's the problem, but they're not colluding.' Well, be that as it may, we haven't gone through that process, and it would shine a light on fuel pricing in the corridor. And, with the Fuel Transparency Act, the BCUC being the administrator of that act and the BCUC having recognized that there is an issue here in the corridor ... they are best suited with the required and necessary data to put together a submission to the Competition Bureau, and why this government is resistant to that, I don't know. "
The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that "protects and promotes competition for the benefit of Canadian consumers."
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation told The Squamish Chief that the government brought in the Fuel Price Transparency Act for “exactly this reason–to shine a light on unfair price gouging and ensure that companies are held publicly accountable.”
“We are currently reviewing the results of the BCUC’s latest report on retail gas prices and considering what further action may be needed,” the spokesperson said.
But, aren't we getting away from fossil fuels?
Sturdy acknowledged that since he put out his newsletter about the issue of higher fuel prices in Squamish and the corridor, he has had a few people reach out to say that it is better for the cost of gas to be high to get people off fossil fuels, given their contribution to climate change.
To that, he says, yes, we want to transition, but that philosophy isn't a fair burden for those who can't afford to pay more.
"I certainly understand that sentiment, but the problem is that the vast majority of us don't have a choice. We don't have an alternative. We don't have a regional transit system. And we can't afford to buy a new car, a new clean energy vehicle. We are just stuck."
'Transportation that is easy and affordable'
The Squamish Chief approached Sea to Sky candidates running for Sturdy's seat in the fall election for their perspective on this issue. They, as with Sturdy, responded prior to the announcement the BC United party was withdrawing from the upcoming election.
"Transportation that is easy and affordable is something that hard-working families depend on," said BC New Democratic Party candidate Jen Ford.
"When they were in power, John Rustad and Kevin Falcon made it harder and more expensive to travel by more than doubling ICBC rates, by adding new fees and charges, and by refusing to stand up to oil companies that were making record profits while people were paying the price," she said.
"They did it before, and they'll do it again. As MLA, I will continue to advocate for a Sea to Sky plan that gives people here affordable transportation options. And I will continue the BC NDP's work to put people first by keeping ICBC rates low."
Price 'skyrocketed' under NDP
Yuri Fulmer, candidate for the Conservative Party of BC, says that under the NDP government, the cost of fuel in the Sea to Sky Corridor has skyrocketed beyond control.
"British Columbians are fed up with the rising cost of living that has become crippling for their families. Fairness and transparency are the cornerstones of the BC Conservative platform," he said, in an emailed statement. "Our government will hold large corporations accountable if they engage in unfair and anti-competitive practices.”
Blame for the oil and gas industry
BC Green Party candidate Jeremy Valeriote took aim at the oil and gas industry.
"What Jordan Sturdy calls price gouging in the Sea to Sky, is a symptom of excessive profiteering by the oil and gas industry, to the tune of $3 billion per day, worldwide, for the past 50 years," said Valeriote.
"The BC Utilities Commission’s finding of gas retailers ‘forming a single larger market’ with the Lower Mainland is just one example of the way they exploit consumers. The industry knows it is on its way out, but will continue to squeeze whatever profits it can, for as long as it can, regardless of the impact on people and our planet."
Valeriote said that in 2018, the BC NDP government had an opportunity to implement regional transit in the Sea to Sky, with the alignment of all the local governments and First Nations.
"However, they balked," Valeriote said.
"So, while we—paying the same gas prices as the Lower Mainland—get a few hourly BC Transit buses, they have the comprehensive, modern TransLlink service. This profound failure of leadership has meant at least six years of paying gas prices as though we have regional transit, without having it at all."
He said the BC Greens will bring a "comprehensive transit platform" to the election.
"We are also looking at excess profits and how we can make sure that companies are paying their fair share."
