Doerkson says his government will keep every campaign promise
In a Global News interview, premier-designate Lorne Doerkson named PST relief for businesses, an independent fiscal review, and repealing DRIPA as his most immediate priorities.
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Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson told Global News in an interview published October 28 that his government will honour every commitment from the Conservative platform. Doerkson said the platform was released later than expected because he removed items he did not believe the government could actually deliver, but that everything left in the document will be acted on.
"What I've promised in the platform I'm committed to. And in fact, we've already had conversations about some of that legislation already," Doerkson told Global News.
PST relief is the first legislative priority
Doerkson named tax relief for BC residents and businesses as one of his most immediate priorities. The Conservative platform, pages 13 and 60, promises to remove the provincial sales tax for three years on business machinery, equipment and software bought or leased. Doerkson told Global News he also wants to stop the PST expansion the previous NDP government had planned, saying it posed challenges for businesses and may have affected seniors and the property tax deferral program.
This promise is tracked at the BC provincial promise tracker.
An independent panel will review the province's books
Before his government brings its first budget, Doerkson said he has already announced plans to appoint an independent panel to review the province's finances. The Conservative platform, pages 9 and 55, promises an Independent Fiscal Review Panel of experts that will report publicly before the first Conservative budget. The platform says the panel will also recommend targets for cutting regulation and improving affordability.
Global News cited former NDP chief of staff Geoff Meggs as putting the current fiscal year deficit at $14 billion. The NDP had inherited a $5.7-billion surplus from former premier John Horgan, according to Meggs.
This promise is tracked at the BC provincial promise tracker.
Doerkson reaffirms plan to repeal DRIPA
Doerkson told Global News he intends to repeal the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. The Conservative platform, page 46, lists the repeal of DRIPA under its pledge to protect private property rights. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, responded by calling a repeal a "declaration of war," according to Global News.
Doerkson said he looks forward to meeting with Phillip. "I think he'll find that, and I have sat in a room with him before, and he would find or certainly know that I'm committed to First Nations in this province and committed to building better relationships," Doerkson told Global News.
This promise is tracked at the BC provincial promise tracker.
What was promised
The Conservative platform committed to all three: PST exemption on business machinery and software (pages 13 and 60), the Independent Fiscal Review Panel (pages 9, 55 and 59), and repealing DRIPA (page 46). All three are listed as not started at the promise tracker.
BC residents can follow whether Doerkson keeps these and all other platform commitments at the BC provincial promise tracker.
Questions this story answers
What did Doerkson say about keeping campaign promises?
In an interview with Global News published October 28, 2026, premier-designate Lorne Doerkson said he is committed to every promise the Conservatives made during the campaign. He said the platform was released later than some expected because he removed items he did not believe the government could actually deliver.
What is the PST exemption Doerkson mentioned?
The Conservative platform, on pages 13 and 60, promises to remove the provincial sales tax for three years on business machinery, equipment and software bought or leased. The platform notes vehicles are excluded from the exemption at the start. Doerkson named this as one of his most immediate legislative priorities.
What is the independent fiscal review panel?
The Conservative platform, pages 9, 55 and 59, promises to appoint an independent panel of experts to review the province's true fiscal position and report to the public before the first Conservative budget. The platform names it the Independent Fiscal Review Panel and says it will also recommend targets for cutting regulation and improving affordability. Doerkson said he has already announced his intention to create this panel.
What is DRIPA and why does Doerkson want to repeal it?
DRIPA stands for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, a BC law that aligns provincial legislation with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Conservative platform, page 46, lists its repeal under the party's pledge to protect private property rights. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs called a repeal a declaration of war, according to Global News. Doerkson said he looks forward to meeting with Phillip and described himself as committed to First Nations in BC.
What did Doerkson say about cabinet formation?
Doerkson acknowledged that he still needs to choose a cabinet, and that only one of his elected MLAs, Theresa Watt, has previously served in a government position. He has not yet announced cabinet appointments or a date for the swearing-in ceremony. Global News reported this on October 28, 2026.
What did Doerkson say about the PST expansion the NDP had planned?
Doerkson said he wants to make sure the PST expansion planned by the previous NDP government does not happen. He told Global News the expansion posed challenges for businesses, and may also have affected seniors and the conversation around property tax deferral.
What did Doerkson say about the province's financial situation?
Doerkson said digging into the province's books and understanding the deficit is a priority. The outgoing NDP government inherited a surplus of $5.7 billion from the Horgan era but ran a deficit that Global News reported is forecast to hit $14 billion this year, citing former NDP chief of staff Geoff Meggs.
Where can I track whether Doerkson keeps these promises?
voche.me tracks every promise in the Conservative platform against the government's decisions. The PST exemption promise is tracked at /bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-pst-exemption-productive-capital, the fiscal review panel at /bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-independent-fiscal-review-panel, and the DRIPA repeal at /bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-repeal-dripa.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Global News: Lorne Doerkson says Conservatives committed to all campaign promisesglobalnews.ca
- Conservative Party of BC 2026 platform, page 9 (fiscal review panel)conservativebc.ca
- Conservative Party of BC 2026 platform, page 13 (PST exemption)conservativebc.ca
- Conservative Party of BC 2026 platform, page 46 (DRIPA repeal)conservativebc.ca
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