BC Conservatives commit to removing provincial sales tax on Canadian alcohol
Lorne Doerkson announced on September 29 that a Conservative government would remove the provincial sales tax on Canadian beer, wine and spirits at the till, saying the commitment will last as long as US tariffs on Canadian goods remain.
Announcement. A campaign, a party or the City chose to say this. voche.me reports it as their claim. Read the original report on conservativebc.ca.
The Conservative Party of BC published a commitment on September 29 to remove the provincial sales tax on Canadian beer, wine and spirits at the point of sale, if the party wins the October 24 election. The announcement was made by party leader Lorne Doerkson at an event in Langley.
The party says the commitment is part of a broader plan to support BC's alcohol producers during what it describes as Donald Trump's trade war, and will remain in place for the duration of that trade war. The party has not defined what would mark the end of the trade war or trigger a return of the tax.
What the party says
The party says that removing the provincial sales tax from Canadian beer, wine and spirits will lower prices for consumers and help BC producers compete. Doerkson said in the announcement: "British Columbia's wineries, breweries and distilleries support more than 20,000 good jobs in communities across our province. We can't let Donald Trump's bullying shut them down."
The party puts the number of people working in the sector at more than 20,000, spread across 70 communities. These figures come from the party's own announcement and have not been independently verified.
The commitment applies only to Canadian products. Doerkson also restated the party's position that American alcohol should stay off BC store shelves.
The cost question
The announcement does not include a cost estimate for removing the tax, nor does it identify which part of the provincial budget would absorb the lost revenue. In a separate campaign statement from September 29 reported by The Canadian Press, Doerkson acknowledged that it would be "almost impossible to commit to how quickly" a Conservative government could balance the budget, citing uncertainty about the true state of the province's finances.
The party did commit on September 28 to not raising existing taxes or introducing new ones, as part of its broader economic platform.
What this means for voters
If the Conservatives win on October 24, buyers of Canadian beer, wine and spirits at BC stores would pay less at the till because the provincial portion of the tax would be removed. Voters can read more about the Conservative Party of BC at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc.
Questions this story answers
What did the BC Conservatives announce about alcohol taxes?
On September 29, 2026, the Conservative Party of BC published a commitment to remove the BC provincial sales tax on Canadian beer, wine and spirits at the till, if the party wins the October 24 election. The announcement was made by party leader Lorne Doerkson at an event in Langley. The party says the commitment will remain in place for the duration of US tariffs on Canadian goods.
Why are the BC Conservatives proposing to remove the PST on alcohol?
According to the party's announcement, the commitment is part of a broader plan to support BC wineries, breweries and distilleries that the party says have been affected by US tariffs. The party says removing the tax will make it cheaper for British Columbians to buy local alcohol and will help BC producers compete. The party put the number of jobs in the sector at more than 20,000 in 70 communities across the province, though these are the party's own figures.
Would the PST removal apply to imported alcohol?
No. According to the party's announcement on September 29, the commitment applies specifically to Canadian beer, wine and spirits. Doerkson also restated the party's commitment to keeping American alcohol off BC store shelves. The party has not published a detailed breakdown of how the policy would be enforced at the point of sale.
How long would the PST removal last?
The Conservative Party of BC says in its September 29 announcement that the PST removal on Canadian alcohol will remain in place for the duration of Donald Trump's trade war. The party has not defined what would mark the end of the trade war or trigger a return of the tax.
Does the BC NDP have a similar policy?
The Conservative Party of BC's September 29 announcement does not describe the NDP's position on the provincial sales tax on alcohol. The announcement characterizes the NDP government's record as contributing to a cost-of-living crisis, but this is the party's own characterization. The NDP's position on the PST and alcohol is not described in the Conservative release.
Who is Lorne Doerkson?
Lorne Doerkson is the interim leader of the Conservative Party of BC and the party's candidate for Cariboo-Chilcotin. He became interim leader after Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned the position earlier in September. You can find his candidate profile at [/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/lorne-doerkson](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/lorne-doerkson).
When is the BC election?
The British Columbia provincial election is on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nominations close October 3 at 1 p.m. Pacific time, after which Elections BC will publish the full candidate list.
Where can I read the Conservative Party of BC's full platform?
The Conservative Party of BC's announcement about the PST on alcohol was published September 29 at conservativebc.ca. The party's full platform is also available at its website. You can also read about all parties running in the election at [/bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc](/bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc).
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Conservative Party of BC: Conservatives to Remove PST from Canadian Alcoholconservativebc.ca
- Conservative Party of BC: candidate page for Lorne Doerksonconservativebc.ca
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