B.C. Conservatives pledge no new taxes if elected

SURREY — B.C. Conservative interim leader Lorne Doerkson says a future government under his leadership would not bring in new taxes if elected on Oct. 24.

Doerkson, who was campaigning in Surrey on Sunday, said in a party statement that Conservatives would end what he calls the B.C. New Democrats' "endless tax grabs on working families."

The party's interim leader says that "instead of watching their hard-earned money disappear into government spending that hasn't made their lives any better," there "will be no new taxes."

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The pledge comes after B.C. NDP Leader David Eby promised on Friday to impose a new tax on unsold condominiums and raise the existing speculation and vacancy tax if his party returns to power.

Conservatives say on Sunday that British Columbians have been hit with "one tax grab after another" such as raising the lowest income tax rate to 5.6 per cent from 5.06 per cent and freezing tax brackets through 2030.

The party calls that a "quiet tax hike that hits British Columbians every time their pay keeps up with inflation."

"British Columbians have never paid more in tax, but nine years of the NDP spending more and getting less means our province has never been further behind," Doerkson said in the party statement.

The statement also criticized the proposed and since delayed expansion of the Provincial Sales Tax of seven per cent to various professional services such as accounting.

The Conservatives' tax pledge comes as British Columbians head to the polls in a snap election called last week.

It also comes as British Columbia faces a projected deficit of $13.8 billion.

Doerkson became interim leader after Kerry-Lynne Findlay stepped down as leader last week.

With files from The Canadian Press, Narcity and CKPG Today