Three BC parties offer opposite tax plans as the province faces a projected $13.8 billion deficit

According to reporting by The Canadian Press via Global News on October 9, 2026, whoever becomes premier will face a projected deficit of about $13.8 billion. All three parties are making their tax and spending commitments against this projected figure during the 2026 provincial election campaign.

The BC NDP, led by David Eby, proposes to bring in a new tax bracket for people making more than $1 million per year, and to increase taxes on the two existing highest income brackets, which start at about $190,000. The NDP also proposes to suspend provincial gasoline taxes. Eby has described the income tax changes as asking wealthy people to contribute more. Voters can read about the NDP candidates at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp.

The Conservative Party of BC, led by Lorne Doerkson, is promising no new taxes. The party says it would eliminate the provincial sales tax on some items and cut provincial income taxes by $1,000 for nearly every working British Columbian. The Conservatives have held multiple campaign events focused on tax reduction, saying that increasing taxes would drive away needed doctors and other workers.

The BC Green Party, led by Emily Lowan, is proposing a wealth tax on net wealth rather than income. According to Global News on October 9, 2026, the Greens' plan would charge 5% on net wealth above $50 million, 10% on net wealth above $100 million, and 20% on net wealth above $1 billion. The tax applies to assets, which is different from the income taxes the other parties are discussing.

An income tax applies to money earned in a year. A wealth tax applies to the total value of assets a person holds, such as property, investments, and savings. The NDP and Conservatives are discussing income taxes. The Greens are proposing a wealth tax. The BC Green Party says it would tax net wealth above $50 million at 5%, rising to 20% on wealth above $1 billion. These are the party's own figures, and no independent body has reviewed the revenue estimate.

The NDP would raise taxes on people earning over $190,000 and add a new bracket for those earning more than $1 million, while also suspending gas taxes. The Conservative approach is the opposite: no new taxes, removal of the provincial sales tax on some items, and a $1,000 reduction in provincial income taxes for nearly every working British Columbian. Both parties say their plan is the right response to the province's projected $13.8 billion deficit.

A projected deficit of about $13.8 billion means the next government will have to decide between spending cuts, tax increases, or borrowing to cover the gap. All three parties have different answers. Voters choosing between parties on October 24 can read each party's platform to see what trade-offs each would make. Each party's candidates are listed at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp, /bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc, and /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-green-party.

Voting day is October 24, 2026. Advance voting is running from October 16 to 21. Voters can find their voting place and confirm their registration at Elections BC, electionsbc.ca. You can read the platforms of all three parties at the party pages on this site.

The Canadian Press reported on October 9, 2026 that each party has stated their tax positions publicly on the campaign trail. The BC NDP platform is at bcndp.ca. The Conservative Party of BC platform is at conservativebc.ca. The BC Greens platform is at bcgreens.ca. Candidate profiles for all three parties are at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp, /bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc, and /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-green-party.