B.C. Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson promises no new taxes at Surrey campaign stop

B.C. Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson campaigned in Surrey on Sunday, promising that a future Conservative government would not raise taxes or introduce new taxes for British Columbians.

Joined by Surrey candidates at Bridgeview Park, Doerkson said the province needed to return to basics rather than pursue what he called “fancy solutions.”

A B.C. Conservative Party news release criticized several NDP measures it said had harmed working British Columbians. It cited an increase in the lowest income-tax rate from 5.06 per cent to 5.60 per cent, as well as the announced expansion of the seven per cent PST and removal of several PST exemptions. The party said the PST expansion was paused on the eve of an election.

The release also criticized David Eby and the NDP over housing affordability, saying brackets frozen through 2030 amount to a tax increase when pay rises with inflation.

Doerkson also spoke about repealing SOGI, or sexual orientation and gender identity, in schools.