Conservatives call NDP income tax plan a doctor tax, say it will push doctors out
The Conservative Party of BC published a statement on October 5 opposing the NDP's proposed income tax changes, which would raise rates for earners above $190,405.
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 statement on October 5 calling the BC NDP's proposed income tax increase a "doctor tax," saying the plan would push doctors out of British Columbia.
David Eby announced earlier the same day that the BC NDP, if re-elected, would raise provincial income tax rates for earners above $190,405 and create a new tax bracket for those earning above $1 million. Daily Hive Vancouver reported the details.
The Conservative Party of BC published its response through its own website, saying: "There is no problem the NDP don't think can be fixed by raising your taxes."
What the NDP proposed
Daily Hive Vancouver reported on October 5 that Eby announced the plan at a campaign stop in Victoria. The party says the changes would take effect in the 2027 tax year if the NDP wins the October 24 election.
The NDP's three changes, as reported by Daily Hive:
- Earners from $190,405 to $265,545 would pay a rate of 18.8%, up from 16.8%.
- Earners from $265,545 to $1 million would pay a rate of 22.5%, up from 20.5%.
- A new bracket above $1 million would carry a rate of 24.5%.
The party estimates 3.88% of BC income earners would be affected. Daily Hive reported the party's own projections: $225 million in new revenue in the first year, growing to $1 billion annually by 2028/29.
Eby said: "We want everyone to prosper in British Columbia." He added that when people are struggling, it is fair, in his words, to ask those at the top to contribute more "so we can make it possible for everyone to get ahead."
What the Conservatives said
The Conservative party's statement argued that the proposal would harm health care by pushing doctors out of the province. The party said that at a time when British Columbians need more access to doctors, taxing them at higher rates would lead physicians to work elsewhere.
The statement also repeated a claim the party has made before: that Eby promised every British Columbian a family doctor by the end of 2025 and did not deliver. The party says that promise went unfulfilled. The BC NDP's response to this characterization was not included in the Conservative party's statement, and no separate response from the NDP to this specific argument has been reported.
Lorne Doerkson, the Conservative party's leader, has said his party will not raise provincial taxes if elected.
Comparing positions before voting day
Voters can see the Conservative party's campaign page at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc and the NDP's page at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp. Voting day is October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21.
Questions this story answers
What income tax changes did the BC NDP announce?
On October 5, 2026, Daily Hive Vancouver reported that Premier David Eby announced the BC NDP would raise provincial income tax rates for earners above $190,405, if re-elected. The plan would create three affected brackets: earners from $190,405 to $265,545 would see their rate rise from 16.8% to 18.8%; earners from $265,545 to $1 million would see their rate rise from 20.5% to 22.5%; and a new bracket above $1 million would be taxed at 24.5%. The changes would begin in the 2027 tax year. The party estimates 3.88% of BC income earners would be affected, leaving more than 96% with no increase.
What did the Conservative Party of BC say about the NDP tax plan?
The Conservative Party of BC published a statement on October 5, 2026, calling the NDP's income tax proposal a 'doctor tax.' The party's statement said that at a time when British Columbians need more doctors, the NDP plan would push doctors out of the province. The party cited Eby's promise to give every British Columbian a family doctor by the end of 2025, which the party says went unfulfilled. The Conservative party's response is published at conservativebc.ca.
How much money would the NDP's income tax plan raise?
Daily Hive Vancouver reported on October 5, 2026, that the BC NDP's plan would raise $225 million in the 2026/27 fiscal year, growing to $925 million in 2027/28 and $1 billion annually by 2028/29. These projections come from the party's own estimates and have not been audited. The plan would take effect in the 2027 tax year if the NDP is re-elected on October 24, 2026.
What percentage of BC earners would pay more under the NDP plan?
Daily Hive Vancouver reported on October 5, 2026, that the BC NDP estimates the changes would affect 3.88% of BC income earners. The party says more than 96% of earners would see no increase in their provincial income tax. These are the party's own figures. The changes would apply to earners with taxable incomes above $190,405.
What is Lorne Doerkson's position on income taxes?
Lorne Doerkson, leader of the Conservative Party of BC and the party's candidate in Cariboo-Chilcotin, has said his party will not raise provincial taxes if elected. The Conservative party's statement on October 5, 2026, said the NDP's income tax plan would drive doctors out of BC, and added the party's view that no problem is solved by raising taxes. His candidate page is at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/lorne-doerkson.
When is the BC provincial election?
The BC provincial election is on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs from October 16 to October 21. You can find your voting place and registration information at Elections BC. The candidate list for the election is at /bc/provincial-2026.
Where can I compare the parties' tax positions?
The Conservative Party of BC's tax positions and other campaign announcements are covered in the news section at /bc/provincial-2026/news. The party's campaign page on this site is at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc. The BC NDP's campaign page is at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp. Both parties have published income tax positions this week.
Why is the Conservative party calling this a doctor tax?
The Conservative Party of BC's statement on October 5, 2026, said the NDP's income tax proposal would affect doctors because physicians in BC can earn above the $190,405 threshold. The party argued that taxing doctors at higher rates would push them to work in other provinces. The statement did not provide data on how many BC doctors earn above that threshold. The BC NDP has not responded to this specific argument, according to the Conservative party's own statement.
What did Eby say when he announced the income tax plan?
Daily Hive Vancouver reported on October 5, 2026, that Eby announced the plan ahead of a BC NDP rally in downtown Victoria. He said: 'We want everyone to prosper in British Columbia.' He added that when people are struggling, it is fair to ask those at the top to contribute more 'so we can make it possible for everyone to get ahead.' The NDP says the plan would leave more than 96% of BC earners with no tax increase.
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