By Greg Fry

Kamloops Chamber of Commerce decry ‘crippling tax increases’ in B.C. budget

Feb 21, 2018 | 11:05 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Chamber of Commerce is expressing concern about the tax increases included in Tuesday’s B.C. budget.

The chamber says it leaves the business community to pick up a $1.92 billion tab for Medical Service Plan premiums by the 2020 fiscal year along with other increases.

“When taken in conjunction with the loss of revenue neutrality (and increase) of the carbon tax, and increases to minimum wage and the corporate tax rate, businesses of all sizes — from dry cleaners to family logging companies — are facing the cumulative effect of crippling tax increases that will challenge their ability to invest and grow,” reads a chamber news release.

The chamber wasn’t completely sour on the budget however noting it “reflects a social agenda with meaningful investments in both housing affordability and childcare — two areas of deep interest to the chamber.”

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