How will carbon tax increase affect B.C. gas prices?

A carbon tax increase kicked in Friday, and will have a direct impact on drivers across B.C.

A new carbon tax on fuel kicked in Friday, and will have a direct impact on drivers across Canada.

In B.C., home of the country's highest prices for a variety of reasons, drivers should expect to see a higher price at the pumps.

B.C.'s levy was timed to match a national plan to discourage pollution by adding another $100 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions, which adds up to about 2.2 cents per litre of gasoline.

The federal tax applies to drivers in some provinces, but not in B.C. 

That doesn't mean drivers are getting a break, though, as the provincial carbon levy in B.C. has gone up to stay in line with federal rates. This too brings the total price to $50 per tonne of GHG emissions, up from $45.

The province describes the tax as putting a price on carbon pollution, "providing a signal across the economy to reduce emissions while encouraging sustainable economic activity and investment in low-carbon innovation."

As for how much more drivers will be paying at the pump, it will likely vary, but when the carbon tax rate rose last year, to $45 from $50 per tonne, the province estimated it would be about 9.96 cents per litre of gasoline, and 11.71 cents per litre of diesel.