NDP, Conservatives, Greens trade barbs on taxes, health care B.C. election campaign

VICTORIA — Health care and taxes dominate the British Columbia election campaign, with the Conservatives criticizing the NDP’s record, while the Greens panned a New Democrat taxation plan.

NDP Leader David Eby unveiled a plan on Sunday that would introduce a new tax bracket for those earning more than $1 million a year as well as raising existing tax rates on two high-income brackets.

Eby defended the policy while on the campaign trail in Victoria today, calling it “the right thing to do” to ask people who have a little bit more to give, especially when seniors are struggling with health care costs.

Conservatives interim leader Lorne Doerkson criticized Eby’s handling of health care, while announcing the party’s plan to set up a $50 million fund to aid rural medical practices at risk of closure at his appearance at the hospital in 100 Mile House, B.C.

Doerkson says Eby’s proposed tax policy would drive doctors out of the province, a claim Eby denied saying his government would maintain “one of the lowest tax rates for medical professionals” in Canada despite the tax hikes.

The B.C. Greens party unveiled its own tax plan on taxes, which would require those with wealth levels above $50 million to “pay their fair share” to support items such as universal childcare, free public transit, and affordable housing.

Green Leader Emily Lowan says the plan would raise more than $22 billion in its first year, followed by another $5.4 billion annually after that.

“Unlike Premier Eby’s tax, which focuses on the income of those earning more than $190k, we are looking at the wealth of households with over $50 million,” Lowan says in a statement.

“It targets what the ultra-wealthy own, not what they’re paid, because massive fortunes don’t grow through wages, they grow through untaxed stocks and real estate.”

The Conservatives say the New Democrat tax policy would lead to a two per cent increase for those whose annual earnings are as low as $190,405, while Doerkson says the NDP has also mismanaged emergency care across B.C.

He notes the NDP while in government committed that each person in B.C. would have a family doctor by last year, but there are still 1.2 million people who aren’t served by a family doctor.

“David Eby has had multiple opportunities to do that over his tenure, and has frankly chosen not to,” Doerkson says.

Eby says his tax announcement is linked to improving health care, such as providing free shingles vaccines with the extra tax dollars.

He says a New Democrat government would also use some of the additional revenue to hire 500 staff to help about 5,600 more seniors receive care at home.

“While Conservatives refuse to be honest about their health care cuts, our plan asks the wealthiest to pay a bit more so seniors get the support they need,” Eby says.

Eby’s defence of the proposed tax increases came at the Victoria Curling Club, where he announced a series of health-care measures that also include changes around long-term care.

He says the New Democrats, if re-elected, would revive seven long-term care construction projects that were “re-paced” during this year’s budget because of cost concerns.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 5, 2026.

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press