B.C.’s Health Minister doesn’t think collecting both the Employers Health Tax and half of MSP Premiums this year is hurting businesses.
The new tax comes into effect on June 15, and many employers will pay both that and 50 per cent of MSP premiums, until the end of December, when MSP is phased out.
Despite the double dipping for now – along with a nearly-10-per cent minimum wage hike on June 1st – Adrian Dix says his ministry isn’t putting extra pressure on businesses.
“We’re the only province in Canada that had medical services premiums. They were $2.6 billion dollars, and we eliminated them. Even if you consider the Employers Health Tax, starting next year that’s a net tax cut every single year of $800 million dollars.
“What the medical services premium elimination is, is the largest middle-class tax cut in the history of British Columbia,” Dix continued. “And middle class tax cuts are good for small business. But the other thing I’d say is this: so is public healthcare.”
Dix also went on to say his government has eliminated bridge tolls, eliminated a sales tax on electricity, and cut the tax rate for small businesses by 20 per cent.