(Left) Interim B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson in Vancouver on Sept. 22, 2026. (Right) B.C. NDP Leader David Eby in Surrey, B.C., on Sept. 23, 2026. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck
Interim B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson says no new taxes would be introduced in the province under a Conservative government, as NDP Leader David Eby says his party would mandate use of Canadian materials in public infrastructure.
Doerkson criticized the NDP government’s tax policies on Sept. 27, saying the increase in the lowest income tax rate from 5.06 percent to 5.60 percent as part of Budget 2026 hurts the province’s workers.
He also criticized the expansion of the 7 percent PST to several professional services effective Oct. 1, saying it adds to the costs of citizens. The affected businesses include accounting, architectural, engineering and geoscience, security, and various non-residential real estate services. The tax expansion was originally set to be introduced in September, but the province introduced a temporary regulation to pause implementation.
“And just last week, the answer from David Eby and the NDP to the housing affordability crisis was to hike yet another tax. Brackets are also frozen through 2030—a quiet tax hike that hits British Columbians every time their pay keeps up with inflation,” Doerkson said.
Budget 2026 temporarily paused the annual inflation indexation for personal income tax brackets and non-refundable tax credits for the 2027 through 2030 taxation years, freezing them at 2026 levels. Known economically as “bracket creep,” failing to index brackets during inflation pushes wage earners into higher effective tax brackets when receiving cost-of-living pay raises.
Doerkson said that even with the increase in taxes and government spending, the province still lacks services.
“Emergency Rooms have rotating closures, people have never waited longer to see a doctor, the construction of hospitals and schools are delayed,” he said.
NDP’s ‘Built in BC and Canada’ Plan
Speaking during a visit to the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 training centre in Maple Ridge, B.C., Eby introduced proposed regulations to require the purchase of Canadian materials and services for public infrastructure projects.
“Trump’s tariffs and attacks are having real impacts on people here. When a B.C. business loses a market, workers feel it, and that is exactly why we need to act now,” he said, with his party naming the proposal “Built in BC and Canada.”
“Today, I’m committing to bring in new built-in B.C. and Canada buying rules for public infrastructure projects.”
Under the proposed rules, the province would be legally required to buy from a Canadian supplier when the local company is able to supply the required goods and materials on budget and on time, Eby said.
The province will set minimum requirements for B.C.- and Canadian-made goods and materials and will apply penalties to the purchase of U.S.-made goods and materials, he said.
Eby also took aim at the BC Conservatives, saying they wouldn’t stand up to Trump.
“We need strong leadership to stand with Team Canada,” Eby said. “Join me in fighting for this province and the country we love, because together we’re going to build B.C. strong.”
