Despite campaigning on a promise to improve affordability for British Columbians, the NDP’s actions to date don’t bode well for you or your pocketbook in 2019.
That’s because the NDP has imposed 19 new or increased taxes worth about $5.5 billion since taking office — two absolutely staggering numbers. Residents and businesses can expect to pay more income and corporate tax. You might also notice it costs more to fuel your vehicle. And does someone else in your family drive your vehicle from time to time? You’ll face a new ICBC premium for that privilege.
Those are just a few examples, but perhaps the most disappointing of the NDP’s tax schemes is the new employer health tax which the NDP is using to replace MSP premiums. Businesses in our community and throughout B.C. are being hit with this payroll tax, which will be a new expense if they didn’t previously cover MSP for their employees.
But here’s the kicker: the NDP is squeezing extra money from the taxpayer as they phase in the tax. Businesses will pay both taxes in 2019 before MSP premiums are finally gone in 2020. So the government will double-dip into the pockets of our business community in 2019, which will really hit these companies’ bottom line. Do they lay off staff? Restrict hiring? Raise the prices you pay for goods and services? We shall see. They have to cover this huge tax bill somehow.
I should also mention that local governments are among the groups captured by the employer health tax. With the City of Delta being hit with a $2-million tax bill, you can likely expect a hike in your property taxes as a result.
Meanwhile, more British Columbians than actual speculators are being targeted by the NDP’s heavy-handed and misnamed speculation tax. Despite the pleas from mayors of affected communities for a way to opt out, the government is marching ahead with it — and a number of housing projects across the province have already been delayed or cancelled as a result. This damaging tax is creating a lot of uncertainty and will put people out of work.
As the BC Liberals’ agriculture critic, I’m also deeply concerned for how our local agriculture community will be hurt by the NDP’s reckless taxes. I’ve spoken publicly and in the legislature many times about the “triple-whammy” our farmers, ranchers and producers are facing. From the aforementioned employer health tax, to the hike in the carbon tax, to the increase to minimum wage — the costs to run these operations are going up substantially.
If B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham was really serious about supporting the next generation of farmers, she would realize these costs will be too rich for many of them to bear. Farmers can’t simply raise prices to account for increased costs because they are price-takers, not price-setters.
In closing, British Columbians were promised one thing – increased affordability — but are getting increasingly taxed and financially squeezed instead. As your local MLA, I will continue to urge the NDP government to reconsider these damaging measures and the negative impacts they will have on your household budget as well as B.C.’s economy.
Ian Paton is MLA for Delta South
