---
title: "BC NDP promises $500M relief fund for small businesses hit by tariffs and wildfires"
description: "The BC NDP says a re-elected government would offer interest-free loans of up to $1 million and a new youth hiring tax credit for small businesses facing U.S. tariffs and wildfire losses."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/bc-ndp-small-business-relief-fund-october-2026"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:06:57.406Z"
---

The BC NDP says a re-elected government would create a $500 million fund to help small and medium-sized businesses recover from U.S. tariffs and recent wildfires. The announcement was made by BC NDP leader [David Eby](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/david-eby) on October 7, as reported by Daily Hive Vancouver.

## What the party is promising

The party says the fund would offer interest-free loans of up to $1 million for up to 72 months. According to the Daily Hive report, the stated purpose is to help businesses recover from "the recent wildfires or Donald Trump's unfair tariffs."

The platform also includes two other items. The BC NDP says it would provide $6 million per year in market research grants and one-on-one business advice to help companies find non-U.S. buyers for their goods. The party also proposes a $5,000 refundable tax credit for any small business that hires a person aged 18 to 30 into their first full-time, 12-month job.

## The business context

Daily Hive Vancouver notes that B.C. businesses have faced several pressures since 2020: the COVID pandemic, high interest rates, a declining housing market, two rounds of U.S. tariffs, and the war in the Middle East. The report cites a Canadian Federation of Independent Business survey finding that 56 per cent of businesses now advise against starting a new business in B.C. The CFIB points to tax and regulatory costs, wage costs, and fuel costs as the main obstacles businesses report.

In the party's release, Eby described small businesses as central to community life, saying they sponsor local sports teams and community events and give young people their first jobs. He said tariffs and wildfires have made an already difficult environment harder for many owners.

## These are promises, not policy

All three items are campaign promises. The BC NDP has governed since 2017 but has not introduced this fund as legislation. A re-elected NDP government would need to pass a budget and enabling legislation to create the fund.

You can compare what each party has promised on the economy at [BC provincial parties](/bc/provincial-2026/parties). Voting day is October 24, 2026, with advance voting from October 16 to 21.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/bc/provincial-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.