Conservative platform promises increased spending, economic growth
Conservative Leader John Rustad puts forward partly costed plan four days before provincial election
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad unveiled his party’s full platform on Tuesday, laying out $2.3 billion in additional spending on priorities such as health care and infrastructure, along with $4 billion in tax cuts.
Flanked by a number of his candidates at the UBC Rose Garden, Rustad said the elimination of the carbon tax would return $3 billion to British Columbians in 2025, while the so-called “Rustad Rebate” on rent and mortgage payments would dole out another $900 million in 2026.
The Conservative plan projects the provincial deficit would balloon to $11 billion annually by 2026-27, but Rustad renewed his promise to balance the books within eight years through a combination of economic growth and reductions in the size of government.bc conserv
Some political observers liked the Conservative’s plan to cut red tape to foster economic growth, but others questioned whether the party’s figures are feasible.
Rustad also promised to reduce the small business tax to one per cent, providing relief of $150 million to small employers. The party said it hopes to eventually eliminate the tax.
He said a Conservative government would spend an additional $1.4 billion in health care over the first two years of its mandate while developing a new funding model and paying for patients to receive private treatment when necessary.
