NDP release costed platform with added spending, new taxes on wealthy

NDP release costed platform with added spending, new taxes on wealthy

Published 5:37 pm Wednesday, October 14, 2026

The NDP released a fully costed party platform just hours ahead of a scheduled debate between party leaders on Wednesday.

Costing estimates include added spending for projects and priorities and added taxes for the wealthiest 3.88 per cent of residents. This keeps the deficit on a similar track as the last provincial budget.

The platform also relies on projected economic growth, the speculation and vacancy tax and a proposed unsold condo tax to fill coffers.

The projected budget deficit would be $13.8 billion this year, $12.7 billion next and $11.7 billion the year after. This is down from the current projected $14.02 billion, $13.2 billion and $12.5 billion, but still a bit higher than what was forecast in the annual budget, released in February.

Newly proposed spending includes $2.8 billion in additional capital expenditures over the next five years, mostly for health care and transit.

It also includes a $50-million youth hiring tax credit, a $60-million manufacturing jobs fund, a $60-million forestry job protection fund, and a $62.5-million small business tariff relief fund, though most of those investments won’t begin for a year or more.

B.C. NDP Leader David Eby is set to square off in a televised debate at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday against B.C. Green Party Leader Emily Lowan and B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson.