A poll commissioned by the NDP has found more than two-thirds of British Columbians oppose the provincial carbon tax, Opposition leader Carole James said Tuesday.

James said in an interview that British Columbians "want strong action on climate change," but "What British Columbians also believe is it has to be fair and it has to be effective."

James said the poll, conducted by Angus Reid Strategies July 11-13, confirmed her party's position that the government should target industrial producers contributing to global climate change.

She said respondents clearly want the province to focus on industrial producers of such products as aluminum, oil and gas to tackle the global climate-change challenge.

The poll found 64 per cent of those polled strongly or moderately opposed the carbon tax on fuel. Only 32 per cent moderately or strongly supported the tax.

The poll also found that 77 per cent of British Columbians strongly or moderately believe that they did not come out ahead financially with the $100 "climate change dividend" compensating for the cost of the tax.

Only 15 per cent strongly or moderately agreed that they came out ahead.

Eighty-eight per cent strongly or moderately agreed with the statement, "It is unfair that major industrial polluters don't have to pay the carbon tax, while ordinary consumers do." About eight per cent disagreed with that statement.

About 72 per cent disagreed with the government when it states the carbon tax will be revenue-neutral. Only about 21 per cent agreed with that statement.

B.C. Finance Minister Colin Hansen said Tuesday he realizes "people are skeptical" about the tax being revenue-neutral, but added that he is legally required to ensure that is the case.

"Every dollar collected in the carbon tax is returned to British Columbians in the form of tax cuts," Hansen said.

He accused the NDP of misleading people when it claims the tax would be more effectively aimed at industry.

"It would be very difficult to put on a tax that only industry pays, because they in turn pass the tax on," he said.

The online survey sampled 800 B.C. residents and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

The tax, introduced July 1, charges consumers 2.34 cents per litre of gasoline, 49.66 cents per gigajoule of natural gas, 1.54 cents per litre of propane and 2.61 cents per litre of jet fuel.

It is to increase every July 1 until 2012 when it reaches 7.02 cents per litre of gasoline.

An earlier Angus Reid poll found that 47 per cent of those surveyed said they were willing to pay higher taxes if they also got an income-tax cut.  Source