The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the British Columbia NDP to scrap its plan to hike taxes on job creators, doctors, professionals and entrepreneurs.

“B.C. needs smart entrepreneurs to move to the province to create jobs and generate wealth, so this huge tax hike targeting and punishing those folks is exactly the wrong way to go,” said Kris Sims, CTF B.C. Director. “The B.C. NDP should scrap this terrible idea of hiking taxes on doctors, hardworking professionals and entrepreneurs.”

B.C. NDP Leader David Eby is promising to increase income taxes if he wins the election.

The two top income tax brackets in B.C. apply at incomes of $190,405 to $265,545 and more than $265,545.

People pay 20.5 per cent in provincial tax when they earn more than $265,545, and they pay 16.8 per cent when they earn between $190,405 to $265,545.

Eby’s new tax hike promise would increase that top rate to 22.5 per cent, and 18.5 per cent for the second highest tax bracket. Eby would also introduce a new income tax that would make people pay 24.5 per cent on every dollar earned over $1 million.

That means British Columbians earning more than $190,404 will have to pay higher income taxes if the B.C. NDP is re-elected.

Someone needs to earn $265,618 to qualify for a mortgage to buy an average Vancouver home, according to National Bank.

The NDP’s tax hike promise would mean those who earn enough to qualify for a mortgage on a normal average home will be paying higher income taxes.

“With this tax hike, Eby might as well stand on top of the North Shore Mountains with a megaphone and yell ‘go away!’ at everyone who wants to start businesses, create jobs or perform surgeries in B.C.,” said Sims. “It’s bizarre that the B.C. NDP is now including people who barely qualify to buy an average home in their wrongheaded ‘eat the rich’ policies.”

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