B.C. Election: Conservatives vow to 'never raise taxes' in first campaign announcement

B.C. Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson at CRAB Park in Vancouver on Sept. 22, 2026. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

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The B.C. Conservatives made their first official campaign announcement on Sunday, with a promise to “never raise taxes” in the province.

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“Our party is unified and ready to deliver the change British Columbians deserve. That starts with ending the NDP’s endless tax grabs on working families,” Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson said. “Instead of watching their hard-earned money disappear into government spending that hasn’t made their lives any better, under my government, there will be no new taxes.”

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The NDP were quick to respond to Doerkson’s announcement, saying that a Conservative government would mean that essential services in the province may be at risk.

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“Their plan to aggressively cut the deficit requires either new revenues and/or deep cuts to services,” the NDP said in a statement.

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Both of B.C.’s major parties chose Surrey, the province’s second largest city, for their first official campaign stops in this snap election. Last week, NDP Leader David Eby chose Peace Arch Provincial Park in South Surrey to drive home his message that the election was called due to tensions between Canada and the U.S.

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BC Premier David Eby makes an election speech focused on healthcare at Peace Arch Provincial Park in Surrey on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

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On Friday, the Conservatives announced that incumbent White Rock Mayor Megan Knight will be the party’s candidate in the Surrey South riding after Brent Chapman left to join OneBC. Chapman is also the husband of former Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay.

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Knight joined Doerkson at Sunday’s announcement, along with Surrey North incumbent Mandeep Dhaliwal, Surrey-White Rock incumbent Trevor Halford and Zeeshan Wahla, the candidate for Surrey City Centre.

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In the closely contested 2024 election, the Conservatives were able to edge out the NDP in Surrey by securing six of its 10 ridings.

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With the announcement of Knight in Surrey South, the Conservatives have candidates in five ridings, with all incumbents except Linda Hepner running again. Hepner was elected in the Surrey-Serpentine River, but resigned from the Conservative party last Sunday, hours before Findlay stepped down as leader. She has since decided against running again.

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The party has yet to announce candidates for the Cloverdale, Fleetwood, Guildford and Newton ridings.

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