CLEAN B.C.
Wishful thinking replacing evidence, argues columnist.
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B.C. residents will see bills go up in 2019 Employer health tax, ICBC rate increases, fuel taxes top the list of rising expenses Premier John Horgan emphasized that self-employed and small business people have Household budgets don’t bal- been paying their own MSP, ance themselves, and B.C. resi- and large businesses are getting dents are looking ahead to tax other benefits from his governand fee increases that will have ment’s policies. to be accommodated in 2019. “In the interim, those very First up for many will be businesses that are asking for property assessments, as mumore child care, asking for nicipalities calculate their housing affordability so they property taxes for the year. can retain employees, are getWith a new employer health ting those services they need,” tax on business and municipal Horgan said. payrolls above $500,000, plus For renters, the province has the remaining year of Medical capped the maximum rent inServices Plan premiums for crease for 2019 at 2.5 per cent, employers who cover their em- the federal estimate of inflation ployers, city councils are look- for the year. ing at property tax hikes of up The Insurance Corporation to five per cent for 2019. of B.C. has applied for a 6.5 In Surrey, for example, the per cent increase to basic vedouble cost for 2019 is estihicle insurance for 2019, as it mated to be $4.7 million, then struggles with rising accident $3.35 million the year after rates and injury claims. By the when MSP is eliminated. Busi- fall of 2019, the province is nesses have also noted that the imposing a cap on pain and burden of employee MSP pre- suffering claims against ICBC miums is less than the payroll and adjusting rates to reflect tax the NDP government has the higher accident risk of new imposed to recover the revenue. drivers and urban areas. Asked about that burden, Continued on A6
TOM FLETCHER BLACK PRESS
NICHOLAS PESCOD/THE NEWS BULLETIN
HAPPY NEW YEAR
The last sunrise over Nanaimo of 2018, as seen from the Harbourfront Walkway. Year-in-review articles were published in the Dec. 27 and Jan. 1 issues of the News Bulletin and can be accessed at www.nanaimobulletin.com/tag/year-2018.
Central Island property assessments keep rising Some parts of the province are seeing property values stabilizing, but not the central Island, based on B.C. Assessment’s calculations. B.C. Assessment’s valuation of homes across the province, based on what was happening in the real estate market as of July 1 this year, was released on New Year’s Day. “It’s a real mix in property value changes, but the market can best be summed up as showing signs of stability across most areas of the province,” said assessor Tina Ireland, in a press release. “Changes in property
assessments really depend on where you live. For example, assessed values for detached single family homes in many areas of Metro Vancouver may see a softening in value, while other markets and areas of the province will see modest increases over last year’s values.” Most of the province outside the Lower Mainland could expect increases of five to 15 per cent for single family home assessed values. This includes Vancouver Island, but in many parts of the central and north Island, values were increasing closer
to 20 per cent. Some Metro Vancouver detached single family homes were showing decreases in value of five per cent to 10 per cent compared to last year. Other areas were relatively stable or showing modest increases. The residential strata market increased with typical values of 10 to 20 per cent across most areas of the province. All B.C. property owners will receive their property assessment notices this month. For more information, visit http://bcassessment.ca.