B.C. NDP Leader David Eby, back left, and B.C. Conservative interim Leader Lorne Doerkson sit at the same table before taking turns speaking at a Greater Vancouver Board of Trade event with the leaders of B.C.'s major parties ahead of a provincial election, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

BC NDP election costings would see deficit fall to $12B in two years

Oct 14, 2026 | 10:45 AM

The NDP has released costings for its British Columbia election campaign promises that would see the province’s record deficit fall by about $2 billion over two years.

The costings released hours ahead of the campaign’s only leaders debate show a deficit of about $12 billion by 2028/29, down from a forecast of $14 billion this fiscal year.

A statement from the party says new commitments made during campaigning for the Oct. 24 election would be paid for by asking “the top 3.88 per cent of income earners to contribute a bit more,” and by continuing economic growth.

The costings show a “platform surplus” of $581 million by 2028/29, which would combine with previous forecasts to reduce the deficit by a little over $2 billion.

The BC Greens released their costings on Tuesday, while the B.C. Conservatives have yet to release their figures.

NDP Leader David Eby says in the party’s statement that interim Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson’s plans would “blow a multi-billion-dollar hole in the budget.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2026.

The Canadian Press