Legislative committee calls on B.C. to back down on PST expansion
The committee says the tax would add $500 million a year in costs and likely be passed on to consumers.
- The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services recommended the province scrap its planned expansion of the provincial sales tax onto professional services like accounting and engineering.
- Unveiled with the February budget, the government planned to implement the PST expansion on Oct. 1, expecting to raise roughly $500 million annually to help offset mounting provincial deficits.
- NDP MLA Paul Choi, who chairs the committee, said the report doesn't reflect individual members' views, while Conservative MLA Gavin Dew called the recommendation an "own goal" for the caucus.
- Finance Minister Brenda Bailey stated in an email the government has "no intention of backing down," arguing the tax aligns with other provinces and protects core services.
- The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade welcomed the recommendation, with Board of Trade President Bridgitte Anderson warning that expanding PST creates new costs for businesses facing economic uncertainty.
15 Articles
15 Articles
B.C. legislative committee urges repeal of PST expansion to more real estate services
With less than two months before the Government of British Columbia is set to start charging Provincial Sales Tax (PST) on a new range of professional services, a legislative committee is calling on the provincial government to reverse course. This week, the legislature’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services made the recommendation in its final report on consultations for the 2027 budget, after receiving nearly 400 presen…
Legislative committee calls on B.C. to back down on PST expansion - Creston Valley Advance
A legislative committee made up mostly of members of the government’s own party is recommending the province back down on a planned expansion of the provincial sales tax. “What we’ve seen here is the NDP members of the committee recognizing just how incredibly unpopular the PST hike is, and giving a clear signal to the Finance Minister that she needs to back away from this hike,” said B.C. Conservative MLA Gavin Dew, who is not on the committee,…
Legislative committee calls on B.C. to back down on PST expansion - Fort St. James Caledonia Courier
A legislative committee made up mostly of members of the government’s own party is recommending the province back down on a planned expansion of the provincial sales tax. “What we’ve seen here is the NDP members of the committee recognizing just how incredibly unpopular the PST hike is, and giving a clear signal to the Finance Minister that she needs to back away from this hike,” said B.C. Conservative MLA Gavin Dew, who is not on the committee,…
Legislative committee calls on B.C. to back down on PST expansion - Grand Forks Gazette
A legislative committee made up mostly of members of the government’s own party is recommending the province back down on a planned expansion of the provincial sales tax. “What we’ve seen here is the NDP members of the committee recognizing just how incredibly unpopular the PST hike is, and giving a clear signal to the Finance Minister that she needs to back away from this hike,” said B.C. Conservative MLA Gavin Dew, who is not on the committee,…
Legislative committee calls on B.C. to back down on PST expansion - Vanderhoof Omineca Express
A legislative committee made up mostly of members of the government’s own party is recommending the province back down on a planned expansion of the provincial sales tax. “What we’ve seen here is the NDP members of the committee recognizing just how incredibly unpopular the PST hike is, and giving a clear signal to the Finance Minister that she needs to back away from this hike,” said B.C. Conservative MLA Gavin Dew, who is not on the committee,…
Legislative committee calls on B.C. to back down on PST expansion - Northern Sentinel
A legislative committee made up mostly of members of the government’s own party is recommending the province back down on a planned expansion of the provincial sales tax. “What we’ve seen here is the NDP members of the committee recognizing just how incredibly unpopular the PST hike is, and giving a clear signal to the Finance Minister that she needs to back away from this hike,” said B.C. Conservative MLA Gavin Dew, who is not on the committee,…
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