BC Cons slam NDP tax

Darren Handschuh - Mar 14, 2018 / 5:40 pm CASTANET
The BC Conservative Party is taking the NDP to task over its proposed payroll tax. The Conservatives propose a progressive health premium instead, claiming the NDP is simply downloading the cost of MSP onto municipalities, businesses and public sector organizations, and ultimately the public, while creating a new drag on the economy. According to the Conservatives, the payroll tax, which the NDP is disguising as a "health tax," is being implemented in 2019 even though Medical Service Plan premiums won't be eliminated until 2020. This means employers will have to pay twice in 2019. "Not only is the NDP government taxing businesses in B.C. twice for the same thing in 2019, while giving nothing back to the citizens of B.C., they are also downloading the cost of healthcare onto the workers of B.C. through the back door,” said Scott Anderson, Interim Leader of the BC Conservative Party. 2Anderson said many British Columbian employers – including those in both the private and public sector – are being faced with millions of dollars in new payroll taxes. “These new expenses will force employers to increase prices that they charge consumers, cut back on services, reduce employee compensation, cut back on staffing levels, reduce growth and stall innovation,” said Anderson. “Further, this new tax will be downloaded onto municipal property taxes in the case of municipalities and other public sector organizations, like schools and libraries.” Anderson said under the new payroll tax, Vancouver will have to pay an additional $9 million in payroll tax, while the University of British Columbia alone will be forced to pay $23 million in new taxes. “In the case of the health authorities, the NDP has created a ludicrous situation in which the province is taxing itself to the tune of a billion dollars. To protect consumers, property owners, renters and workers from being penalized by the NDP’s new payroll tax, we call on all MLAs to amend the budget,” said Anderson. The BC Conservatives propose a graduated, progressive health premium with a higher cap of $100. Employers, both public and private, will retain the ability to choose whether to cover the health premium, thereby avoiding municipal downloading, double taxation, and the creation of a new economic drag.
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Vancouver Sofi 2016: P.70 & P.46
UBC Sofi 2916: P.148