Poll finds strong opposition to B.C. government’s planned PST expansion

A new Leger poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) suggests that a majority of British Columbians oppose the provincial government’s planned expansion of the provincial sales tax (PST), set to take effect Oct. 1.

According to the poll, 66 per cent of respondents want the government to cancel the expansion, while 15 per cent support moving ahead with it. Another 19 per cent are undecided.

The proposed changes would extend the PST to a range of professional services, including those provided by security guards, accountants and architects. The tax would also apply to items such as clothing patterns, knitting supplies, cable television and landline telephone services.

The CTF says opposition to the tax expansion is widespread across different age groups, genders and regions of the province. Women, people aged 55 and older, and Vancouver Island residents showed the strongest opposition.

Among respondents who expressed an opinion, 82 per cent said the government should cancel the planned expansion.

Carson Binda, B.C. director of the CTF, called on Premier David Eby to scrap the tax changes, arguing that higher costs for businesses and consumers would ultimately be passed on to families.

The B.C. legislature’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services has also recommended that the government repeal the planned PST expansion.

The tax changes are projected to generate nearly $1.5 billion over three years, according to the provincial government’s 2026 budget.