B.C. NDP costing projects deficit will fall to $12 billion in two years

The NDP released costings for its British Columbia election promises hours before the campaign’s only leaders’ debate. The figures project a deficit of about $12 billion by 2028-29, down from a forecast of $14 billion this fiscal year. The party says new campaign commitments would be paid for by asking the top 3.88 per cent of income earners to contribute more and by continuing economic growth. Its costings show a $581-million “platform surplus” by 2028-29, which, combined with previous forecasts, would reduce the deficit by a little more than $2 billion. The figures include $1 billion in new revenue from income tax increases on the top 3.88 per cent and $730 million from “targeted economic growth.”

The BC Greens released their costings Tuesday; the B.C. Conservatives had not released theirs. In the NDP’s statement, Leader David Eby said interim Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson’s plans would “blow a multi-billion-dollar hole in the budget,” citing tax cuts promised by the Official Opposition. Eby inherited a budget surplus when he took over from former premier John Horgan in 2022, and the deficit has grown during his tenure. Eby said the party was “being upfront about how we pay for our plan.” He described it as fully costed and focused on what matters to working families in uncertain times, adding that British Columbians would be protected from rising costs at the gas pump and grocery till.

The Greens’ platform promises almost $9.3 billion a year in new initiatives for health care, education and other social services over the next two fiscal years. The party says the money would come from a one-time tax on “excessive wealth,” which would raise $22.2 billion in its first year; total additional revenue would peak at $25.3 billion in 2027-28. The Greens say additional revenue from 2028-29 onward would come from higher taxes on the wealthiest British Columbians, and nobody “who works for an income” would pay a single dollar more in tax than they do now.

**Doerkson promises election legislation**

Doerkson has promised legislation to prevent provincial and municipal campaigns from overlapping if elected. In a social media post, he said his party would prohibit a provincial election within 60 days of municipal election dates. The provincial election called by Eby is scheduled for Oct. 24, one week after B.C. municipal elections on Oct. 17. Eby’s opponents and the Union of B.C. Municipalities have criticized the timing of the snap vote.

**Eby unveils forestry plan**

Eby unveiled the NDP’s forestry plan, promising a new funding stream to retrofit mills in B.C. It would be part of a permanent B.C. Manufacturing Jobs Fund and would allow retrofitted mills to make value-added products for export to markets outside the U.S. The plan also calls for a new $120-million fund over the next two years to provide “targeted support” for workers and communities at mills at risk of closing. Eby said the NDP would also ensure consistent access to fibre and speed up permitting, but provided no details on how an NDP government would do that.

**CentreBC unveils housing platform**

CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko said her party would double the BC Builds program to create 20,000 below-market homes by 2031 if elected. The plan is part of the party’s housing platform, released Wednesday morning, which calls for standardized provincial housing approvals by January 2028. The party would also increase the annual renters’ tax credit to $600. Neither Sturko nor OneBC interim leader Dallas Brodie will take part in the televised leaders’ debate that night.

**OneBC loses candidate in North Vancouver-Seymour**

Elections BC said two candidates had withdrawn from the upcoming provincial election. OneBC’s Frederick Thiele withdrew in North Vancouver-Seymour, but his name will remain on ballots because they have already been printed. Elections BC said signs and staff at voting places would inform voters that Thiele had withdrawn. The riding was won by the NDP’s Susie Chant in the past two elections. Independent candidate Gerry Lenoski also withdrew in New Westminster-Coquitlam.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2026.