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Surrey Board of Trade Supports Recent Provincial Changes to MSP

SURREY – The Surrey Board of Trade’s advocacy has been that BC is the only province that pays a regressive healthcare premium. The premium is shouldered by employers as part of a benefit package or paid outright by contractors and consultants. This simply is not fair to BC’s business community.

“We put forward a position early in 2016 requesting the provincial government to consider overhauling the MSP system, using the new Provincial Tax Competitiveness Commission (PTCC),” said CEO Anita Huberman. “Yesterday’s announcement is supportable as it decreases the financial burden of MSP on those earning less. It is a very good step forward.”

Ideally, the Surrey Board of Trade would like the MSP to be replaced with a possible system of payroll tax and an income tax surcharge, as is done in Ontario, that would be scaled based on income.

“We would prefer to see the elimination of one more line item on payrolls to help reduce the burden on the businesses that provide economic wealth to this province,” said Huberman. She added, “Decreasing the rates for lower income families leaves that little bit more in their pockets to provide for themselves and their children. And every little bit helps.”

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What was announced: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/more-british-columbians-quality-for-reduced-msp-premiums-in-2017
For more information please contact: Anita Huberman, CEO, Surrey Board of Trade anita@businessinsurrey.com