By Greg Fry/James Peters

B.C. Wildlife Park ‘welcomes’ Employer Health Tax exemption

Jul 5, 2018 | 4:13 PM

KAMLOOPS — The general manager of Kamloops’ B.C. Wildlife Park is welcoming the news the non-profit will be exempt from the soon to be implemented Employer Health Tax.

The tax will replace Medical Service Plan (MSP) premiums in 2019 and will hit local governments but not non-profits with payrolls less than $1.5 million dollars.

“We’re out of the woods as far as the health tax goes, yes. Our payroll was $1.16 million last year,” Glenn Grant told CFJC Today. “Our budget this year is $1.18 million and we see it going up to about $1.3 million within the next four or five years. So, we’re definitely beneath that threshold which means unless anything changes. It’s welcoming news for sure.”

He said the exemption takes some of the financial pressure off the park but says other concerns remain.

“We’re still looking at ways to minimize the impact of the minimum wage which was part of our discussion when we met with officials in Victoria,” Grant says.

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“And we’re still looking for some funding for some of our conservation and environmental programs which we’re spending operational dollars on because we strongly believe in them. So, if the government can help us with those programs we can move some of that money to minimize our minimum wage concerns.”

Grant first raised his concerns with the government earlier this year noting the Employer Health Tax would have meant a $200,000 financial hit to the park.

So, does he feel like the powers that be in Victoria are now listening?

“I think we have been heard. Now how far that goes remains to be seen but this is a step in the right direction with the Employer Health Tax.”