VANCOUVER, B.C. – The Conservative Party of British Columbia is denouncing Premier David Eby’s economic record following a ConnectFM interview in which he identified higher taxes as his only approach to generating additional government revenue.
In an interview Thursday, Eby was asked a straightforward question:
“Other than taxes, what is your plan to generate more revenue?”
His response:
“Uhhhh…that is, that is the plan, Vijay, to ask British Columbians who have a little bit more to pay a little bit more.”
In one simple answer, David Eby admits he has no real plan to grow the BC economy. They exclusively rely on tax increases at a time when British Columbia is struggling with weak economic growth, job losses and declining business activity.
After nine years of NDP government, British Columbia faces a series of troubling economic indicators:
- Economic growth: Real GDP growth is forecast at just 0.9% in 2026, down from the 1.3% projected in Budget 2026.
- Employment: British Columbia lost 26,000 full-time jobs in August alone.
- Business activity: For five consecutive quarters, more businesses have closed than opened in British Columbia.
- Entrepreneurship: The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has warned of an “entrepreneurial drought” in British Columbia.
- Population: Approximately 70,000 people moved out of British Columbia in 2025, while the province recorded a population decline of nearly 12,000 in the first quarter of 2026.
The NDP government increased the lowest provincial income-tax rate from 5.06% to 5.60% in 2026. It also proposed extending the PST to professional services, in addition to 40 more additional tax increases. And, their newest election promise is to increase taxes on doctors while BC has a severe shortage of doctors.
“British Columbians are losing their jobs. Businesses are closing their doors. Investment is drying up. And when David Eby is asked how he plans to grow the economy, his answer is to raise taxes again,” said Conservative Party of BC candidate Trevor Halford.
“British Columbia has extraordinary natural resources, talented workers and tremendous economic potential. We should be attracting investment, building major projects and creating good-paying jobs. Instead, this Premier keeps turning to higher taxes. That is not a substitute for an economic growth and wealth creation strategy.”
The Conservative Party of British Columbia has proposed an alternative economic vision focused on tax relief, investment and job and wealth creation, including:
- Providing $1,000 in annual tax relief for working British Columbians, or $2,000 for the average couple, with a commitment to no new tax increases.
- Introducing a 120 Day Permitting Act to accelerate investment and major project development.
- Working to double British Columbia’s natural gas production by 2032.
- Reducing regulatory barriers and introducing targeted incentives to attract private-sector investment.
“British Columbia doesn’t have a shortage of economic opportunity. It has a government that has forgotten how to create the conditions necessary for that growth to happen,” added Halford.
“David Eby’s answer to every question is another tax hike. Our answer is more jobs, more investment, higher wages and a stronger economy. That’s the difference between nine years of NDP economic management and strong leadership for serious times.”
