Lorne Doerkson says a Conservative government led by him would not introduce new taxes, criticizing what the party calls NDP ‘tax grabs’ ahead of the Oct. 24 vote.
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Lorne Doerkson, the interim leader of the B.C. Conservatives, says a future Conservative government under his leadership would not bring in new taxes if the party is elected in a snap election set for Oct. 24.
Doerkson made the pledge while campaigning in Surrey on Sunday, describing it as an alternative to what he characterized as “endless tax grabs on working families” under the governing B.C. New Democrats.
In a party statement, Doerkson said Conservatives would “end what [he] calls the NDP’s endless tax grabs” and would instead ensure “there will be no new taxes.” He also argued that rather than “watching their hard-earned money disappear into government spending that hasn’t made their lives any better,” British Columbians should see relief from additional levies.
The pledge comes after B.C. NDP leader David Eby said on Friday he would impose a new tax on unsold condominiums and raise the existing speculation and vacancy tax if his party returns to power.
Conservatives say British Columbians have been hit by what they call “one tax grab after another,” including raising the lowest income tax rate to 5.6 per cent from 5.06 per cent and freezing tax brackets through 2030.
The Conservative statement describes the tax changes as a “quiet tax hike that hits British Columbians every time their pay keeps up with inflation,” linking the bracket freeze to potential increased tax burdens as wages rise.
The party also criticized a proposal, later described as delayed, to expand the Provincial Sales Tax of seven per cent to certain professional services, including accounting services, which it says would have widened the scope of the PST.
Beyond the tax policy debate, the Conservatives’ “no new taxes” message is being delivered as B.C. faces a projected deficit of $13.8 billion, according to the information cited in the party’s statement.
Doerkson said in the same statement that “British Columbians have never paid more in tax,” adding that the Conservatives believe “nine years of the NDP spending more and getting less means our province has never been further behind.”
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