B.C. Conservative interim leader Lorne Doerkson says his party would raise the basic amount of income that workers can earn before paying provincial income tax from $13,216 to $32,000.Â
The Conservatives said the proposal would deliver a tax cut of about $1,000 annually for someone earning approximately $40,000.
Speaking in Surrey, Doerkson said the change would eliminate provincial income tax for full-time minimum-wage workers.
Doerkson also announced this week that a Conservative government would scrap the PST on machinery, equipment and business software for three years.
It was not clear how the Conservatives propose to make up for the potentially billions in lost revenue from the changes.
Doerkson has said a Conservative government would focus on growing the economy, including through the rapid expansion of the liquified natural gas sector.
The B.C. NDP estimated the proposed income tax changes would cost the province about $2.5 billion annually, including $190 million in tax savings for the province’s wealthiest earners.
Meanwhile, NDP Leader David Eby was in Richmond on Thursday, where he announced a plan to keep auto insurance rates frozen until 2030.
B.C. Green Leader Emily Lowan was in Victoria to announce the party’s plan for public education, including a universal school food program and a school supplies program.
The Greens also propose increasing funding for inclusive education and boosting the counsellor-to-student ratio to one counsellor for every 250 students.
