Minister Brenda Bailey (Image Credit: BC Legislature/YouTube)

By Michael Reeve

BC Budget 2026

Kamloops MLA’s concerned over rising deficit and increases to taxation in 2026 budget

Feb 18, 2026 | 4:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — The B.C. NDP government unveiled their 2026 budget on Tuesday (Feb 17) afternoon, showing an increasing deficit from last year’s projection of $10 billion, to now $13.3 billion. The new budget includes large cuts to individual ministries, while also increasing taxation through expansion of PST, and changes to income tax. 

The BC Conservative finance critic is calling the budget an assault on working families and seniors.

The 2026 budget was virtually devoid of Kamloops mentions, except for the Kamloops Cancer Centre which is still proceeding. Nonetheless, Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar believes impacts will be felt locally.

“Well very disappointing, the tax changes in this will really hammer away at seniors, at working families, and at small businesses,” Milobar told CFJC News. “There is almost $2 billion of extra costs being added in tax changes to those three groups and the government sluffing it off as no big deal is concerning as well.”

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Milobar stated that the budget included a $400 million dollar cut to the forest ministry. Already an industry in turmoil, Forest Critic Ward Stamer is concerned lowering the budget could be a fatal blow.

“Maybe there isn’t any money left and they are going to be slashing everything and anything,” said Stamer. “So yes, I have some significant concerns, hopefully I will be able to get more to the bottom of this when we get to estimates. But it certainly doesn’t look good for our forest industry.”

Stamer did find one kernel of positivity within the 2026 budget, with regards to training opportunities for new workers interested in trades, but noted it will come down to implementation.

“There was no money for anything. There was nothing in any highway improvements, there was certainly not anything in there for all the municipalities big and small throughout B.C. that are under the strain of these additional housing requirements and infrastructure challenges we have with water and sewer, and schools and hospitals,” added Stamer.

Asked how to correct course in his opinion, Milobar said it won’t be easy.

“I don’t think you can just say we are going to cut your way out of this, that would be about a 15 per cent cut to the budget all in one fell swoop, that is not realistic, and nor is it real,” said Milobar. “The NDP instead of focusing on trying to actually truly get the economy rolling, you need to grow the economy in a meaningful way, and outpace the projected GDP growth. and that means government get out of the way and let industry, and let small manufacturing and let small business do what they do best.”