B.C. Premier David Eby announced on Friday that the province is delaying the planned expansion of the provincial sales tax (PST) to professional services.
In May, the government announced its plan to expand the provincial sales tax to include a long list of professional services, including security and accounting.
At his speech at the Union of B.C. Municipalities on Friday, Eby said they are delaying the planned expansion until the province is clear of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war.
“We hope that this change helps you manage your expenses as well in these uncertain times,” Eby said.
“We’re taking additional steps to support business to make sure that we are assisting them in finding new customers and new markets.”
Eby also announced that the province will be investing an additional $75 million to expand business support programs in the province.
This includes an additional $30 million for the B.C. Manufacturing Jobs Fund, an additional $30 million for the Integrated Marketplace initiative, an additional $15 million for the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program and $15 million to expand the BuyBC program beyond agriculture.
Get daily National news
Eby also doubled-down on his promise of keeping U.S. alcohol off B.C. liquor store shelves.
He said that until the forest industry stabilizes, the provincial liquor stores will not “stock or sell a single bottle of U.S. alcohol.”
The forest industry in B.C. says it has reached a “breaking point” and sent a letter to Eby earlier this month calling for urgent action to address challenges ranging from provincial permitting delays to U.S. tariffs.
Two weeks ago, Eby said he was busy preparing for the fall session, but on Wednesday he raised speculation about a fall election.
“We have a one-vote majority, so we’re election-ready as the NDP,” Eby said.
“Elections BC should be election-ready.”
- Christine Fréchette claims more Quebecers are warming up to fracking
- Opposition ‘politicking’ on Weedmark private flights unless evidence exists, says policy expert
- Canada took the trade war to Trump’s backyard. Americans didn’t care
- Judge temporarily halts Kelowna’s expropriation plans for Hotel Eldorado boardwalk
New data from Angus Reid on Thursday showed the NDP at 41 per cent, which is four points ahead of the BC Conservatives, with the BC Greens sitting at 13 per cent.
However, 47 per cent say the NDP is doing a bad or very bad job, while 39 per cent disagree.
The president of the UBCM is urging Eby not to call any elections until after municipal elections conclude on Oct. 17.
“We call on the premier to respect the law and respect the integrity of the local election process that only happens once every four years,” Cori Ramsay said on Thursday.
“It’s time to hit pause and put British Columbians first.”
Come on bc , our beloved premier eBay is so screwing us it’s not even funny , he needs to go or otherwise we are screwed
Money grubbing useless sacks of turd, dumb, lazy, the complete package
Just remember all the promises that he made last time. He put us in huge debt and is giving are parks and land away. just a few.
if these clowns get in for another 4 years, this province is doomed
Eby would call a snap election thus keeping him in power for there is no other qualified political opposition it’s a give me for Eby as he pulled that off last time LOL
EBY PLANNING provincial sales tax expansion ! ENJOY YOUR LAST DAYS EBY, U WILL NEVER BE RE ELECTED. U HAVE BEEN A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT
Trump is saving us taxes, while our own government looks to put more taxes on us because we have no alternatives
Anonymous the village idiot speaks…too often.
Bc is broke spending money like a bunch of drunken sailors.
Why is such a hero, look at me. How good I am to you peasants. He’s going to call a snap election… this is bait and the lower mainland will eat it up.
What a Weasel he is. Don’t need another four years of this guy.
“However, 47 per cent say the NDP is doing a bad or very bad job”
But will still vote NDP. If he was serious, why not pause their PST?
Eby cannot be trusted !
More double talk from Eby. He is isn’t expanding the PST and tries to make it sound like he is giving me something, in fact I am no better off than I was before the announcement. As for helping companies find new markets, the premiers can’t even take down the trade barriers between the provinces. Also keeping the US alcohol of the liquor stores shelves is really helping with my finances (NOT) now if he reduced the price of food that would help. Eby can call an election if he wants but I will not vote for him. Even a monkey couldn’t do anymore damage to BC
Nobody cares what this Pathetic little snake says. He’s a Piece of Trash
Since the homeless, FN and the hands out crowd far outnumber the working class, a snap election is pretty much guaranteed. The voter base that the NDP require far out numbers all others.
Needed taxes to fund soaring deficits deferred cause election is in the air. Amazing, that.
Soveriegin wealth fund, I think Eby meant to say New World Order in Canada especially in BC
The Liberals/NDP have held power for the last decade, and it is time for a change. If you are unhappy with the state of our cities, voting for a different party might be the only way to see real improvement. Watching a continuous stream of new third parties pop up just to split the vote is getting stale. News clips are on repeat year after year. Time for a big change.
And you can do a better job, cocsucker concerned
Will Eby promise another $1,000 to everyone only to cancel it after he won?
Any true B.C. resident (especially landowners) will not vote for this snake.