BC Conservatives pledge no new taxes if elected

B.C. Conservative interim leader Lorne Doerkson said Sunday that his party would not introduce new taxes if it wins the provincial election on Oct. 24. Speaking in Surrey, Doerkson said a Conservative government would stop what he described as repeated tax increases under the B.C. New Democrats. The party also criticized the NDP’s plan to add a new tax on unsold condominiums and raise the speculation and vacancy tax. The Conservatives made the pledge as the province faces a projected $13.8 billion deficit. The party also took aim at earlier tax changes, including a higher lowest income tax rate and a proposed expansion of the provincial sales tax to some professional services, though that plan has since been delayed.