---
title: "Conservative Party of BC announces seniors plan, including reversal of property tax deferment changes"
description: "The Conservative Party of BC published a seniors platform on October 9 that would reverse changes to BC's property tax deferment program and expand home care and long-term-care options."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/conservative-bc-seniors-plan-property-tax-deferment-october-2026"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:06:50.356Z"
---

The Conservative Party of BC published a seniors plan on October 9 that would reverse changes to BC's property tax deferment program and expand home care and long-term-care access if the party wins the October 24 election. [Lorne Doerkson](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/lorne-doerkson) is the Conservative leader. The plan is the party's own account of what it would do; it has not been independently verified by this site.

## Reversing the property tax deferment changes

The most specific commitment in the Conservative seniors plan is to restore the old terms of BC's Property Tax Deferment Program. According to the party's release, the NDP changed the program so taxes deferred from 2026 onward accrue compound interest at prime plus 2 percent. The previous terms used simple interest at prime minus 2 percent. The party cites the BC Seniors Advocate as saying those changes cost seniors who use the program about $1,200 more per year on average, a figure the party has not published a breakdown for. The Property Tax Deferment Program lets qualifying seniors delay paying property taxes until they sell their home.

## Long-term care and home care

The Conservative Party says it would build more long-term-care beds by reducing design requirements it says drive up costs, and would give seniors waiting for a bed portable public funding to choose among qualified providers. The party's release says 7,200 people are currently waiting for a long-term-care bed in BC, a figure that comes from the party's own release. The plan would also expand consumer-directed, publicly funded home care, following the BC Seniors Advocate's recommendations, the party says.

## Other measures in the plan

The Conservative Party says it would grow HandyDART service where demand is greatest, provide free shingles vaccination, and help seniors on low, fixed incomes pay for hearing aids. It would also add tougher penalties for elder abuse and fraud.

## What this means for you

## If you are a senior who uses or plans to use BC's Property Tax Deferment Program, the Conservative plan would restore the lower interest terms that applied before 2026 changes, if the party wins the election. The NDP's changes are in effect now. Voting day is October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs from October 16 to October 21. You can find your voting place at Elections BC (elections.bc.ca).

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