Some of the election promises from B.C.’s incoming Conservative government
With the B.C. Conservatives set to form government for the first time in nearly a century, here are some of the promises they made on the campaign trail under interim leader Lorne Doerkson:
NO NEW TAXES OR TAX INCREASES
Doerkson promised that a Conservative government would not raise existing taxes or introduce new ones.
The Conservatives said they would raise B.C.’s basic personal income tax exemption from $13,216 to $32,000, which would cut provincial taxes by $1,000 for nearly every working British Columbian.
The party promised several changes to the provincial sales tax including removing the PST from Canadian beer, wine and spirits.
Doerkson said he would also eliminate the PST on certain machinery, equipment and business software.
‘SUPERCHARGE’ THE ECONOMY, REDUCE THE DEFICIT
The Conservative platform said it would create $2.6 billion in new revenue over three years and shrink the deficit to $10.8 billion by 2030.
The plan assumed GDP growth of 2.5 per cent in 2027, 2.8 per cent in 2028 and 3.2 per cent in 2029.
The platform promised to chop spending by freezing outside hiring, cutting consultants and reviewing spending across numerous government ministries.
REPEAL DRIPA
Doerkson said his top priority would be repealing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, known as DRIPA.
Last year, the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled DRIPA should be interpreted to incorporate the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into provincial laws with immediate effect.
The Supreme Court of Canada has granted B.C.’s application to appeal the ruling but Doerkson said DRIPA needs to be repealed.
He said the act has not created the security for British Columbians that it was meant to achieve.
REPEAL SOGI
The Conservatives have promised to repeal SOGI 123, a program which aims to make schools inclusive and safe for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
While Doerkson said the province has to provide a safe place for kids, he called the SOGI program “an absolute lightning rod for division in our province.”
FULLY FUND HEALTH CARE AND CREATE MEDICAL FUND
Doerkson said the Conservatives would maintain health-care funding at levels approved in the 2026 budget and make fully funding health care the first decision in each annual budget process.
The party also promised a $50-million fund to aid rural medical practices at risk of closure and to build a women’s and children’s hospital in Surrey.
PORTABLE FUNDING FOR LONG-TERM CARE
Doerkson promised to make long-term care funding portable so seniors eligible for publicly funded care could choose their provider, including public or non-government providers that meet safety and quality standards.
Election promises targeting seniors also included pledges to expand HandyDart service and reverse NDP changes to the property-tax deferment program.
HIRE MORE POLICE
The Conservatives pledged to hire and deploy 250 more police by expanding the Justice Institute of B.C. Police Academy.
They said they would also add 500 RCMP officers and 150 civilian staff over five years in rural and regional communities.
INFRASTRUCTURE PROMISES
The Conservatives pledged to scrap the Massey Tunnel replacement between Delta and Richmond in favour of a bridge.
Doerkson said they would work with Ottawa to fund and build rapid transit along Surrey’s King George corridor with a SkyTrain extension to Newton.
EXPAND NATURAL GAS AND LNG DEVELOPMENT
Doerkson promised to double liquefied natural gas production by 2032, saying allies in Asia and Europe need Canadian LNG.
The party’s platform also said it would restore confidence in industries such as mining, energy and agriculture, cut red tape, speed up permits and support more production and processing in B.C.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2026
The Canadian Press
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