THE BC NDP said on Thursday that the Interim BC Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson announced a plan to blow a $2.5 billion hole in the budget, making health care cuts inevitable, as he continues to dodge questions about his plans.
Doerkson was directly asked by a reporter how much his tax plan would cost, but was unable to answer. His handlers did not allow follow-up questions.
His tax change would cost approximately $2.5 billion a year – and would also give the tax cut to the wealthiest British Columbians.
$190 million each year would go to the top 3.88% of income earners.
$2.5 billion is the equivalent of compensation for 6,000 doctors working in B.C.’s healthcare system.
The BC NDP said that no one is fooled by Doerkson’s attempts to claim he will pay for it all by magically growing the economy with a plan that aims for less LNG production than is currently on track under the BC NDP.
Doerkson has previously said he won’t raise additional revenue for the government, and he won’t back down on his commitment to aggressively cut the deficit, making it impossible to avoid cutting services, including healthcare.
Spencer Chandra Herbert, candidate for Vancouver-West End, said: “The money has to come from somewhere. The BC Conservatives’ plan includes a tax break for millionaires and it only adds up one way: cuts to healthcare. David Eby and the BC NDP team are lowering costs at the pump and the grocery store and asking the top 4% of income earners here to pay a little more to fund stronger healthcare for everyone.”
