IN THE LEDGE – ‘Why is the government hiking taxes on small businesses?’

An exchange during Question Period in the B.C . Legislature on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 between Peter Milobar of the BC Conservatives and jobs minister Ravi Kahlon of the BC NDP.

Peter Milobar: Well, before the Green interlude, the minister was getting quite the round of applause from the Mutual Admiration Society across the way, so I’ll give them another chance for an applause line about their economic track record.

Fastest deficit growth.

Interjections.

Peter Milobar: Keep it up.

Fastest deficit growth. Fastest debt growth. Five credit downgrades in a row.

Come on, let’s hear ya. Come on.

In just five years, this government has hiked tax revenues by 50 percent, and yet they’ve never been further from a balanced budget.

It’s sure quiet again over there.

This government is so unbalanced that they’ve decided to hike taxes on B.C.’s smallest businesses at a time when it’s harder than ever for those businesses to stay alive. This government just ignores those concerns.

To the Minister of Finance: why is this minister’s fiscal mismanagement being placed on the shoulders of B.C.’s smallest entrepreneurs?

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: It’s great to see my friend who’s running for leadership come up and speak today. In fact, I think he spoke more today than he spoke at the last leadership debate that he was in.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh. Members, let’s focus on the subject matter, please.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: For sure, hon. Speaker. I appreciate that. We continue.…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh. Members. Minister will continue.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: We continue to support small business. We have lowered the small business tax for small businesses, 25 percent lower than when these members — they used to be the B.C. Liberal Party; now they’re B.C. Conservatives — sat on this side of the House. They claim they’re not B.C. Liberals, but when their new leader comes in, they’ll be reminded really fast about the history that they have on this side of the House.

Not only have we lowered small business tax, but we continue to see strong economic growth here in the province. We heard from small businesses that they wanted expansion of the chronic property offending program, which was a direct response to them, part of the budget, $16 million. We heard from them that they wanted more skilled people to be able to take employment opportunities. We provided that as well. This is why we continue to lead the country in economic growth.

I’ve got a lot more to say. I hope they use the rest of the question period for more questions.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

Peter Milobar: Thank you Mr. Speaker, from the party that doesn’t know what a leadership race actually is.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh. Members. Members.

Peter Milobar: It’s interesting. I’m trying to move two chairs, and so are two people two chairs away from the Premier currently. So it’s an interesting seating diagram in this House right now.

The Speaker: Let’s focus on the subject matter, please.

Peter Milobar: Small business owners like Caren McSherry are at their wits’ end. They’re forced to respond to the chaos on the streets all on their own. The Gourmet Warehouse is just one, and it has been forced to hire security. Now this government says: “You know what? You should pay tax for that security as well.” Caren has said: “Not only can we not protect you and your property and your businesses, but now we’re going to tax you on what we can’t do.”

Again to the Minister of Finance, why is this government expanding taxes to services that this Solicitor General has completely failed to provide to the public?

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: I’d like to remind my friends across the way that we didn’t take out our leader. We support our leader on this side of the House.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh. Members. Members.

[The Speaker rose.]

The Speaker: Members. Members, order. Members will be quiet. The minister will continue.

[The Speaker resumed their seat.]

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: As I mentioned to the member already, we, on our side, are proud of the record of lowering small business taxes by 25 percent right when we formed government — in fact, much lower than when they were on this side of the House. We have one of the lowest small business taxes in the country. Not only that.… [Applause.]

Yes, I figured they’d be clapping to that as well.

Not only that, but we heard from small businesses. They wanted us to expand the chronic property offending program, because they were seeing the results. They were seeing that people that were the repeat offenders had wraparound supports put around them so they couldn’t have the impacts that they were having.

I’ve shared in this House before that my family ran a small business a few blocks from here. I know how stressful it is for a small business to have their window broken. That’s why these programs are important. That’s why the supports we put in place are so vitally important for their growth.

Source: BC Hansard debates