Carbon tax, increases to hydro, B.C. Ferries to kick in April 1

At a time when the cost of living remains top of mind for many British Columbians, some things are set to cost more on Monday. 

Here are some of the things British Columbians can expect to pay more for starting on April Fool's Day.

An increase to the carbon tax is set to come into effect on April 1. The carbon price is scheduled to rise from $65 to $80 per tonne.

B.C. introduced North America's first broad-based carbon tax in 2008, and will administer the coming tax increase on behalf of the federal government.

Canadians living in the eight provinces with the federal carbon tax receive quarterly rebate payments, which vary depending on the province and the size of household.

B.C., Quebec and the Northwest Territories follow their own carbon-pricing mechanisms that meet federal standards and are exempt from the federal program. 

Opposition Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre recently sent a letter to B.C. Premier David Eby asking him to join seven other premiers in opposing the April 1 tax increase, saying the 23 per cent hike amounts to an extra 18 cents on a litre of fuel and people in B.C. and Canadians can't afford it.

Eby responded by saying B.C. would end up with less money returned to the province if it accepted Poilievre's request.

"I don't live in the Pierre Poilievre campaign office and baloney factory," said Eby. "I live in B.C., am the premier and decisions have consequences. The fact we face is that if we followed Mr. Poilievre's suggestion there would be less money returned to British Columbians after April 1 than there would be if the federal government administered this increase directly."

B.C. Hydro rates will go up 2.3 per cent on April 1, following approval from the B.C. Utilities Commission.

Following the application back in October, B.C.'s Energy Ministry said it marked the sixth year in a row that the Crown utility has applied for an increase below the rate of inflation.

In February, the province announced the B.C. electricity affordability credit for eligible customers.

B.C. Hydro says the credit "will more than offset this increase." Customers don't need to apply for the credit, which will be applied automatically.

The credit amount will be automatically calculated based on a customer's electricity consumption over the past year, the Crown utility says, with the average residential customer seeing around $100 in savings.