Advocating for changes to the EHT
The Chamber continues gathering support for changes to the Employer Health Tax, which was a surprise announcement in BC Budget 2018. The EHT will have serious consequences for British Columbia's economy. The new tax is directly applied to businesses with a payroll of more than $500,000, as well as through increased property taxes as municipalities pass on the cost of the tax on their payrolls. The government is promoting the tax as a way to replace revenue lost from eliminating MSP premiums. However, the EHT will end up costing much more and will make operating a business more difficult. For consumers, this will lead to higher prices for goods and services and fewer options. It will also affect workers by making employers hesitant to hire new staff or raise wages for existing staff. Having a tax directly linked to business growth is the wrong approach and sends the wrong message to people looking to invest in BC. The Chamber will not let this issue go away quietly. In June 2019, The Chamber filed a submission with the province's Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. This submission outlined The Chamber's advocacy efforts as they relate to the provincial government, including comments from our members about the struggles they are enduring because of the EHT. You can read our 2019 submission here. In October 2018, Chamber CEO Catherine Holt appeared before the provincial government's Standing Committee on Finance and Government Service. The Chamber voiced its concerns to the committee, which includes members of government as well as the opposition. Making sure business is heard before this new tax is implemented should be a priority for politicians and community leaders — watch Saanich North & the Islands MLA Adam Olsen question the government on the EHT here. 
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Join our letter-writing campaign
You can help make sure the province understands your concerns by signing this letter to BC Finance Minister Carole James.
Please sign and send to communications@victoriachamber.ca, so we can ensure they get the minister's attention. EHT CalculatorNot sure if the EHT is a big deal for your business? Find out how much you'll pay by downloading The Chamber's EHT calculator.
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