Life gets more expensive in April

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) Starting tomorrow, you’re going to have to find a way to pay more for things you will find it hard to live without. April Fool’s Day is bringing increases for BC Hydro rates and ferry fares while a rate hike at ICBC isn’t far behind.

Hydro rates jump 6 per cent as part of five years of planned rate increases. BC Ferries fares increase 2.9 per cent.

ICBC is also looking to increase basic insurance rates again. The corporation is in the final stages of its application to the BC Utilities Commission for a 5.2 per cent increase, which would mean about $36 more per year.

Property taxes are going up in many cities. This all comes after increase to MSP premiums in January.

Trish Garner with the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition says this type of increase really affects low income people who are just hanging on as it is. She says car insurance might seem like a luxury, but most low income families rely on them. They live outside the city centres where it’s more affordable. “Transit is not very accessible in those areas so they then rely on a car. So they’re doing long commutes. Any of those prices, ICBC, gas going up, that has a really significant impact.”

She thinks the BC government could make better choices when it comes to raising revenue. “We just saw in the latest budget the tax cut given to the richest in BC. That was $227-million given back to them.”

She says her group is working with the BC Utilities Commission to find a better way to raise rates without making people homeless.

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