Conservatives will supercharge BC’s economy by cutting red tape, scrapping the PST on business investment, and approving major projects, bringing good jobs back to British Columbia.

SURREY, B.C. — Conservative Party of BC Leader Lorne Doerkson today announced his plan to supercharge British Columbia’s economy, catalyzing investment and bringing thousands of good-paying jobs back to our province.

After nine years of the NDP, British Columbia’s economy has stalled. In August alone, the province lost 26,000 full-time jobs, and unemployment has climbed to 6.5 percent. Twenty-one lumber mills have closed since 2023, and towns built on forestry are watching their young people move away. David Eby has raised taxes more than forty times and has already announced $1.3 billion in tax increases during the first few weeks of the campaign. He’s crushing businesses with red tape and driven the deficit to a record of nearly $13.8 billion, earning the province eight credit downgrades since 2023. Every downgrade sends more of British Columbians’ money to bankers and bondholders, and less to the nurses, doctors, teachers and roads families depend on.

“David Eby’s NDP have taxed and regulated our economy into decline, chasing away the investment and jobs that families depend on,” said Doerkson. “A Conservative government will supercharge BC with pro-business policies that bring jobs and investment back, and we will make British Columbia the most attractive place in the world to invest. We have the resources and the workers to lead the world.”

The Conservative Party of BC will:

  • Scrap the PST on immediate investment machinery, equipment and business software for three years to get businesses investing in BC now.
  • Appoint an expert panel to deliver a plan within 180 days to simplify BC’s taxes and attract investment.
  • Select a new Minister for of Red Tape Reduction to lead a specialized, business team working across government
  • Enlist a Premier’s Technology Council to provide advice on economic development and government efficiency, helping to strengthen conditions for tech jobs in BC.
  • Cut red tape back to 2017 levels by the end of a first term to free BC’s businesses and entrepreneurs currently being strangled by BC NDP red tape.
  • Introduce a “one-in, two-out” red-tape reduction law.
  • End the NDP’s culture of suspicion toward builders and get projects to yes, while keeping BC’s high environmental standards.
  • Implement the BC Energy Superpower Plan todouble Natural Gas production by 2032 and introduce a 120 Day Permitting Act for Major Projects over $250 million.


“British Columbia should be the most prosperous place in the world, but for nine years a radical NDP government has stood in the way of business, investment and jobs,” said Doerkson. “That ends with me. A Conservative government will supercharge BC’s economy and bring strong leadership for serious times.”

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Media Contact:
Alex Shiff, Director of Media Relations
media@conservativebc.ca