Up until now, Vancouver's Co-operative Auto Network and other car share programs across the province, have been informally exempt from a passenger vehicle rental tax but a recent audit has suggested that may change, the Vancouver Sun reports.

"These car co-ops are not a rental company. It doesn't make sense to apply a rental tax for a company like this," said NDP MLA Gregor Robertson in a news conference, and he added that car share programs shouldn't be punished for "doing the right thing for the environment." The Ministry of Small Business and Revenue says it has not yet assessed the audit's findings and that no decision has been made to collect a rental tax from car share operators.

According to the Sun, Robertson was supposed to be joined by a representative of the Co-operative Auto Network, which runs 180 cars in Vancouver, but they pulled out at the last minute after apparent talks with the provincial government. It's a good sign that an agreement can be reached, Robertson says, but he wants reassurance from Minister Rick Thorpe.