22.53°C Vancouver

Oct 13, 2020 7:27 PM -

B.C. Liberals' campaign platform pledges new economic plan, review of all taxes

Share On

The B.C. Liberal party says it would implement a new economic response plan to the COVID-19 pandemic within 60 days if it wins the Oct. 24 provincial election.

In the party's platform, the Liberals say the plan would involve eliminating the PST for a year, launching a comprehensive review of regulatory processes to ensure more timely approvals and establishing an emergency pandemic response committee to work with all parties and the provincial health officer.

The party says it would also appoint an independent Fair Tax Commission to review all provincial taxes and recommend adjustments, reductions or eliminations to most effectively fuel economic recovery.

The Liberals would also prepare legislation to ban early elections during provincial emergencies, and implement a provincewide framework for hybrid and online learning for children.

Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson has previously announced many elements of the platform, including $58 million to hire more police officers, prosecutors and psychiatric social workers and nurses.

He has promised to deliver $10- to $30-a-day child care and invest $1 billion over five years in new long-term care facilities.

Latest news

AlbertaAug 12, 2026

Alberta Could See Billions in Budget Surplus Amid High Oil Prices

The Alberta government is expected to record a budget surplus of billions of dollars this fiscal year, driven by higher crude oil prices. According to University of Calgary economics professor Trevor Tombe, the province has already accumulated a $3.8-billion surplus so far this fiscal year. He said every $1-per-barrel change in oil prices can make a difference of about $680 million to the provincial treasury. Tombe estimates that if oil prices remain above $66 per barrel, Alberta could end up with a surplus of around $6 billion, instead of the previously projected $9.4-billion deficit. Alberta
trump-says-us-will-maintain-total-control-over-strait-of-hormuz
WorldAug 12, 2026

Trump says US will maintain ‘total control’ over Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again claimed that the United States has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz and said Washington intends to maintain that control. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump described the U.S. Navy’s blockade as a “wall of steel” and said there was nothing Iran could do about it. His comments come as shipping traffic through the strategic waterway has dropped sharply. Only eight vessels passed through the Strait on Tuesday, compared with around 130 to 140 vessels per day before the war. Iran, meanwhile, says full maritime traffic through
19-year-old-arrested-after-knife-waving-incident-in-vancouvers-granville-entertainment-district
BCAug 12, 2026

19-Year-Old Arrested After Knife-Waving Incident in Vancouver’s Granville Entertainment District

Vancouver police have arrested a 19-year-old man after he allegedly caused a disturbance with a knife and created a sense of fear in the Granville Entertainment District. According to police, the incident occurred at around 1:50 a.m. today. An employee at a business reportedly saw the man flipping over tables and displaying a knife toward people passing by. When the employee attempted to intervene, the suspect became angry and began striking the business’s sign with the knife. The employee then backed away and called police. Officers arrived at the scene and arrested the suspect just two blo
canada-announces-34-million-in-climate-funding-for-communities
CanadaAug 12, 2026

Canada Announces $34 Million in Climate Funding for Communities

The federal government has announced $34 million in funding to help communities across Canada deal with the impacts of climate change. The funding will support municipalities and local organizations in launching projects aimed at reducing the risks posed by natural disasters such as floods, wildfires and extreme heat. Federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin announced the funding in Halifax today, acknowledging that Canada’s climate is changing and that communities need to be better prepared for its impacts. According to Dabrusin, the funding will support 141 climate-related projects acro
early-morning-shooting-in-surreys-cloverdale-leaves-one-injured
BCAug 12, 2026

Early Morning Shooting in Surrey’s Cloverdale Leaves One Injured

Surrey Police Service (SPS) is investigating an early morning shooting in Surrey’s Cloverdale neighbourhood that left one adult male with a minor, non-life-threatening injury. Police responded at approximately 3:52 a.m. on August 12 to reports of a shooting near a residence in the area of 60 Avenue and 177 Street. Two people were reportedly shot at, with one person sustaining a minor injury that did not require medical treatment. The suspects fled the scene. SPS’s Major Crime Section has taken over the investigation, while forensic officers are processing physical and digital evidence in t

Related News