VAL Litwin is pitching himself as a candidate for the future while pushing failed BC Liberal ideas from the past, the NDP said on Tuesday.

As Chamber of Commerce president, Litwin consistently pushed for tax breaks for big businesses and the wealthiest British Columbians.

Litwin is BC’s most persistent advocate for the return of the HST (or “a made-in-BC value-added tax”), which would shift billions in taxes from businesses onto people. Litwin has pushed a value-added tax (VAT) for years and was registered to lobby for a VAT as recently as summer 2020, according to the NDP.

Litwin has also opposed the progressive Employers Health Tax on the largest 15% of businesses, and has called for the elimination of the Speculation and Vacancy Tax, which has successfully added thousands of condo units to the rental market in Metro Vancouver, the NDP said.

NDP MLA Dan Coulter said: “Val Litwin can’t be the candidate of the future while he’s pushing failed BC Liberal ideas from the past. He’s always pushed for tax breaks for profitable corporations and the wealthiest British Columbians. He would make life easier for the people at the top and make everyone else pay for it with higher costs and cuts to services.”