BC FORUM News

BC New Democrats say MSP premiums an unfair tax

February, 2016 - New Democrats have been speaking out for years saying MSP premiums are nothing more than an unfair tax. A person making $30,000 shouldn’t pay the same amount as a person earning $300,000, or even $3 million. Yet that’s exactly what happens.

Every other province uses the existing tax collection system to pay for health care. But Premier Christy Clark doesn’t get it. Since she became premier, she has continually increased MSP premiums every single year.

This unfair tax was increased on January 1 for the seventh year in a row. Monthly rates are now $75.00 for one person, $136.00 for a family of two and $150.00 for a family of three or more. That means B.C. families pay $1,800 per year for the unfair medical services tax. That’s more than double what they paid in 2001 when the Liberals formed government.

Christy Clark isn’t putting the best interests of British Columbia families first. Instead, she’s making life even less affordable, from massive increases to hydro rates and ferry fares to ICBC rates to the unfair medical services tax

Christy Clark is planning to tinker around the edges of this unfair tax in next week’s budget. New Democrats will be fighting for real change to this unfair tax.