Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

BC Business Confidence Collapses Under NDP Mismanagement


Conservative Opposition Jobs Critic Gavin Dew is slamming the NDP government for its reckless and ongoing economic mismanagement after the latest CFIB Business Barometer revealed that small business confidence in British Columbia has plummeted to its lowest level in history – and the worst in Canada.

“Handing David Eby sweeping powers over BC’s economy won’t erase the damage he’s already done,” said Dew, referring to Bill 7, the Economic Stabilization (Tariff Response) Act, which would let the Premier sidestep the legislature to impose laws and regulations for the next two years.

“Eby expects a standing ovation for simply talking about the economy, but British Columbians aren’t buying it. They’re too busy watching their businesses buckle under crushing taxes, suffocating red tape, and runaway government spending.

The CFIB report paints a grim picture of BC’s economy, with small business confidence dropping a staggering 22.6 points to 26.5—worse than during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2008 financial crisis, or 9/11. The report cites overwhelming tax and regulatory costs (77%), skyrocketing insurance costs (69%), and unsustainable wage pressures (65%) as the most significant barriers to growth.

“This NDP government has ballooned the public sector by 41% while the private sector struggles to survive,” added Dew.

“Small businesses are being bled dry by relentless tax hikes, suffocating regulations, and skyrocketing costs — all while the Premier pretends to have things under control. Our economy was a dumpster fire long before the tariff threat. Are we supposed to give the arsonist more power to extinguish the fire?”

“British Columbians are watching their communities suffer while this government clings to empty ‘plans’ that amount to little more than lip service and photo ops,” said Dew.

“This is the worst small business confidence BC has ever seen – worse than 9/11, the financial crisis, and COVID. If the Premier cared about the people keeping this economy afloat, he’d scrap his failed policies and start listening – today. Or just get it over with and step down for the good of our province.”

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“4.5 million hectares of forest lands have burned since 2023, and the best they can do is point to a 90-hectare block being salvaged?” ~~ Ward Stamer, Kamloops-North Thompson MLA

Today, BC NDP forest Minister Ravi Parmar made this pronouncement; ‘Removing red tape has sped up permitting, allowing for more wood to be salvaged, quicker’. 4.5 million hectares of forest lands have burned since 2023, and the best they can do is point to a 90-hectare block?    ~~ BC Conservative Forests Critic Ward Stamer While acknowledging the NDP government has recognized improvements were needed in permitting and accessing burnt fibre in a timely fashion, the reality is, they are barely making a dent in the problem.  This government's recognition that only seven percent of pulp mill fibre came from burnt timber in 2024-25, quite simply put, is a failure. And the recent announcement, just three weeks ago, that the Crofton Pulp Mill would be permanently closing, is proof of that.     Instead of Premier David Eby’s government addressing core issues being faced by British Columbia’s forest industry, they are doing little more than manipulating the facts, ...
1 comment
Read more

A message from BC Conservative MLA Ward Stamer, and the Kamloops – North Thompson Riding Association

2025 was a busy first year. As a Caucus, we worked very hard to defeat Bills 14 and 15, legislation which allows the provincial government to move ahead without environmental assessments on renewable projects, and that also allows cabinet to build infrastructure projects without getting approval from local municipal governments. This is not acceptable to your BC Conservative caucus, and we will continue to press this government for open and transparent projects in the future.  Two things we had success in were having the first Private Members bill passed in over 40 years. The first was Jody Toors Prenatal and Post Natal Care bill, and then there was my private members Bill M217 Mandatory Dashcams in commercial vehicles (passed second reading unanimously and is heading to Committee in February). Regrettably, much of the legislation passed by the government was little more than housekeeping bills, or opportunities to strengthen the ability of Cabinet Ministers to bypass the BC legi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Wildfire waste plan torched -- Forestry critic Stamer calls BC's wildfire salvage rate 'a failure'

Claims that BC is making progress salvaging wildfire-damaged timber are masking deeper problems in the forest sector, the province’s forestry critic says. Last week, BC’s Ministry of Forests said mills in the province processed more than one million cubic metres of wildfire chips in 2024-25, up from 500,000 cubic metres in 2023 and representing about seven per cent of all processed wood. Kamloops-North Thompson BC Conservative MLA Ward Stamer said those claims of progress ignore the reality that only a fraction of burned timber is being used ... CLICK HERE for the full story
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more