BC Conservatives will abolish tax on tips while Eby to double speculation tax

In the last 24 hours, the BC election campaign featured various promises and policy announcements from the BC NDP, BC Conservatives, and BC Green Party, showcasing the distinct paths each party proposes for the province.

BC NDP leader David Eby announced plans to increase the Speculation and Vacancy Tax, aiming to address the province’s housing crisis by discouraging speculators and turning vacant properties into homes.

Eby criticized Conservative leader John Rustad’s proposal to cancel the tax, calling it a reckless plan that would benefit wealthy investors at the expense of ordinary British Columbians.

Under Eby’s proposal, the tax would be raised to 1% for Canadian residents and 3% for foreign owners, starting in 2025. Eby argued that this measure, which has already converted over 20,000 empty units into homes in Metro Vancouver, would help alleviate housing pressures.

In response, John Rustad referred to the tax as a “tax grab” and reiterated his intention to cancel BC NDP’s housing action plan, emphasizing that the plan hampers profits from real estate and makes housing unaffordable for many.

When Rustad was asked on Radio Canada today whether he would eliminate the speculation tax, his response was, “That’s certainly something we need to look at. However, we have not made a commitment one way or the other at this stage.”

“John Rustad has opposed the Speculation Tax since 2018. Today – two weeks before an election – he claimed he hasn’t made up his mind. He doesn’t want you to know he’s planning to scrap it because it will help speculators and drive costs up for everyone else. He’s a risk we can’t afford,” said Ravi Kahlon, BC NDP Candidate for Delta North.

Rustad also announced two new BC Conservative Party initiatives: abolishing taxes on tips for hospitality workers and addressing what he sees as failures in the NDP’s childcare policies.

Rustad argued that service workers should not be taxed on tips, which are crucial for making ends meet, and called the current practice unfair.

He highlighted that abolishing taxes on tips would provide immediate financial relief to workers and boost local economies, as they would have more disposable income to spend in their communities.

However, the BC NDP quickly responded, stating that tips are considered taxable income under federal law, making Rustad’s proposal impossible to implement.

“Rustad continues to try and hide from his 20-year record as a BC Liberal cabinet minister. When I worked as a server, John Rustad and the BC Liberals made sure restaurant and bar workers were paid less than the minimum wage and that our bosses were allowed to take a cut of our tips. John Rustad and the BC Liberals also had the lowest minimum wage in the country. Now he expects servers to believe he’s suddenly on their side? Here’s a tip – don’t believe him,” said Brittny Anderson, BC NDP Candidate for Kootenay Central.

On the childcare front, Rustad described the NDP’s childcare plan as a complete failure, leaving families with long waitlists instead of accessible care.

The Conservative Party promised a “common sense” approach to childcare, which includes expanding $10-a-day childcare by working with independent providers and reducing regulatory barriers.

Rustad also proposed creating 24-hour childcare spaces for shift workers and providing expanded tax credits to families, giving parents more options.

In response to Rustad’s childcare proposals, the BC NDP released a statement warning that the Conservative plan could result in a significant increase in childcare costs for families.

The NDP claimed that when Rustad was previously in government, childcare costs grew at three times the rate of inflation.

David Eby and the BC NDP highlighted that their government has implemented supports that reduce monthly fees by between $545 and $900. According to the NDP, Rustad’s plan would scrap these savings, leading to increased costs for families in exchange for vague tax cuts with no clear details or funding.

The NDP also expressed concerns about Rustad’s intention to remove regulatory barriers, which they argue could lead to unchecked fee increases and put families at risk of paying more.

Further, they pointed out that Rustad did not clarify whether his plan would increase reliance on unlicensed childcare, which could compromise safety and quality.

“Rustad is a risk we simply can’t afford. We’ve built new spaces while cutting childcare costs in half and saving families hundreds of dollars every month. Rustad would do exactly what he did last time he was in government: reduce supports, drive up costs, and make childcare a luxury only a few can afford,” said Grace Lore, BC NDP Candidate for Victoria-Beacon Hill.

BC Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau issued a statement criticizing both the BC NDP and Conservative Party platforms.

She argued that the NDP lacked new ideas and that the Conservative plan was a return to previous policies that led to many of the province’s current challenges.

Furstenau called for a collaborative, proactive approach, emphasizing that the BC Greens offer real solutions for a sustainable future.

“The BC NDP is out of their own ideas, and has no plan to tackle the root causes of the problems facing British Columbians,” said BC Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau.

“Meanwhile, Conservatives offer nothing but a return to BC Liberal-era austerity cuts and privatization, which created the crises we face today. Neither has a practical vision for the future – just outdated approaches that will drag BC backwards,” added Furstenau.

Additionally, the BC Greens unveiled a plan to expand BC’s community forest program, aiming to protect forests while boosting local jobs and supporting rural economies.

“BC’s forests are part of our identity, but years of industrial logging, wildfires, insect infestations, and other disturbances have left them in crisis,” said Furstenau.

She criticized multinational corporations for exploiting BC’s forests and stated that Rustad’s plans would return the province to previous policies that harmed ecosystems.

The Green Party’s forestry plan includes:

• Expanding the community forest program by increasing the number and size of community forests to promote biodiversity, wildfire protection, and rural development
• Dedicating 20% of the Annual Allowable Cut (AAC) to community forests
• Prohibiting logging of primary and old-growth forests while fully funding their protection.
  Halting clearcut logging and switching to more sustainable practices

BC Greens candidate David Evans emphasized the importance of sustainable forestry practices, stating that poor logging practices negatively impact water supplies and increase wildfire vulnerability.

Cammy Lockwood, BC Greens candidate for Cowichan Valley, added that community forests create twice as many jobs as industrial logging and help ensure that the benefits remain local.