B.C. NDP leader Eby promises tax hike on wealthy to fund health care

B.C. NDP leader Eby promises tax hike on wealthy to fund health care

Published 8:38 pm Sunday, October 4, 2026

At a Victoria rally, B.C. NDP leader David Eby announced his plan to tax the wealthy to help pay for health care.

If elected, Eby will increase income tax for the top two tax brackets and create a new bracket for those earning $1 million or more.

“We’re going to be honest with people about how we’re going to pay for these things, because these things do in fact cost money,” he told the crowd gathered in the Fernwood Neighbourhood House Sunday evening (Oct. 4).

“Can’t just build the province on vibes – that’d be great though.”

According to the B.C. NDP, the change will only impact the top 3.88 per cent of British Columbian income earners, with no change for anyone earning less that $190,000.

“There will be absolutely no change for 96 per cent of British Columbians in the taxes,” said Eby.

Currently, B.C.’s top two income tax brackets – $190,405 to $265,545 and over $265,545 – are taxed at 16.8 per cent and 20.5 per cent respectively.

Under Eby’s plan, those rates would rise to 18.8 per cent and 22.5 per cent. For the new top bracket, earnings above $1 million will be taxed at 24.5 per cent.

The new taxes will help eventually generate an extra $1 billion a year to help fund improvements in health care and lower costs for British Columbians.

Introduced in the 2027 tax year, the new taxes are projected to raise $225 million in 2026/27, $925 million in 2027/28 and $1 billion in 2028/29.

“We want everyone to prosper in British Columbia,” said Eby in a statement. “We celebrate when families and businesses here are successful. But when people are struggling, we think that it’s fair to ask those at the top to pitch in a bit more so we can make it possible for everyone to get ahead.”

During the Victoria rally, Eby reflected on other promises made during his campaign.

He reiterated that the B.C. NDP will place a cap on the profit margins of essential groceries, such as eggs, cheese, milk and poultry. Eby also said he will make it easier for smaller grocery stores to open in the vicinity of larger competitors, placing a ban on restrictive property deals.

“We’re going to support the little guys,” he said. “We’re going to help the little independent grocers open up next door. Give them a little bit of competition.”

He also said again he plans to lower gas prices by up to 30 cents a litre, which could save around $20 on a tank of gas.

“We don’t want you to park your truck, we want you to feed your family,” Eby said.

At the Victoria rally, Eby was flanked by the B.C. NDP candidates running in the eight Greater Victoria ridings: incumbents Ravi Parmar, Darlene Rotchford, Dana Lajeunesse, Diana Gibson, Grace Lore and Nina Krieger; plus newcomers Richard Zussman and Kala Bryson.

His visit rounded off a day of campaigning on Vancouver Island, with previous stops in Campbell River, Comox and the Cowichan Valley.

“We know where our strength is – it’s standing together,” said Eby in his closing remarks to the Victoria crowd. “And that’s how we’re going to win this election for British Columbians.

“That’s how we’re going to support families … build the housing … drop the grocery bills … build this province for everybody.”

The province goes to the polls Oct. 24.