BIABC Media Releases
For Immediate Release
September 18, 2026
BIABC: Whatever Role Election Timing Played, Reversing PST
Expansion Was the Right Decision
VANCOUVER, BC - The Business Improvement Areas of British Columbia (BIABC) is welcoming the provincial government’s decision to halt its planned expansion of the Provincial Sales Tax (PST), saying that regardless of the political considerations surrounding the decision, it is the right move for businesses, workers and communities across British Columbia.
Since the PST expansion was announced, BIABC has joined a growing chorus of business organizations and leaders warning that imposing the tax on services businesses rely upon every day would add costs at precisely the wrong time.
“There will obviously be speculation about the timing of this decision and whether the prospect of an election played a role,” said Jeremy Heighton, President of BIABC. “Regardless of the motivation, when government listens to legitimate concerns, recognizes that a policy is creating unintended consequences and changes direction, that should be acknowledged. This is the right decision.”
BIABC had been particularly outspoken about the proposed application of PST to security services, describing it as a “tax on safety.”
Businesses in downtowns, main streets and commercial districts across British Columbia are already spending significant amounts on private security, patrols, monitoring, vandalism prevention and other measures intended to protect employees, customers and property.
“We have consistently said that taxing security services was particularly difficult to justify,” Heighton said. “At a time when businesses are already spending more of their own money to protect employees, customers and storefronts, government was effectively proposing to tax them for trying to keep people safe. We called it a tax on safety because that is exactly how it would have been experienced by businesses.”
BIABC’s concerns were shared by a broad cross-section of British Columbia’s business community, which repeatedly warned that expanding the PST would increase costs, discourage investment and add another financial burden at a time when many businesses are already dealing with higher operating costs and significant economic uncertainty.
Heighton said the decision is particularly welcome for small businesses, which have limited ability to absorb additional costs and are often forced to choose between passing those costs along to customers or reducing spending elsewhere.
BIABC said the decision should now open the door to a broader conversation about the cumulative cost pressures facing businesses and what can be done to strengthen the competitiveness of British Columbia’s economy.
“If an election is coming, these are exactly the kinds of issues we expect parties and candidates to be talking about,” Heighton said. “How do we make it easier to operate a business, create jobs and invest in our communities? How do we improve public safety rather than make it more expensive for businesses to provide it themselves? Those conversations should continue regardless of when British Columbians next go to the polls.”
-30-
For any media enquiries, please contact:
Kelly Gleason
kgleeson@lbmg.ca
604-240-6231
Past Media Releases
BIABC Survey Finda Growing Crime Concerns Taking Increasing Toll on BC Businesses and Their Employees
September 3, 2026
Breakdown in Trade Talks Makes Supporting BC and Canadian Businesses More Important Than Ever: BIABC
August 24, 206
BIABC Survey: Businesses Warn Expanded PST Will Push Many Closer to the Breaking Point
August 18, 2028
BIABC Welcomes Royal Assent of Bail, Sentencing Reforms and Urges Further Action on Repeat Non-Violent Offenders
June 16, 2026
BIABC Urges Province to Put Small Business at the Centre of Budget Planning Process
June 8, 2026
BIABC Welcomes Provincial Liquor Policy Changes, Encourages Continued Modernization
June 2, 2026
Annual Conference Concludes in Penticton with Focus on Public Safety, Economic Pressures and Main Street Resilience
May 28, 2026
BIABC and NCDA Urge Province to Scrap PST Expansion, Warning Governemnt is "Taxing Safety" for Business
May 19, 2026
Retail Crime Reaching Crisis Levels Across Canada, Reinforcing Concerns Raised by BC Businesses: BIABC
May 12, 2026
BIA Week Shines Light on the Hidden Investment Keeping BC's Main Streets Safe and Vibrant
April 20, 2026
BIABC Welcomes Support for Workers Affected by Tariffs and Global Market Shifts
March 5, 2026
BC Small Businesses Record Worst Sales Decline in Canada as Costs, Crime and Policy Pressures Mount
March 4, 2026
PST Expansion Targets the Price of Safety, Warns BIABC
February 25, 2026
BIABC: Tight Budgets Don't Justify Inaction - Low Cost Decisions Can Still Deliver for Small Business
February 17, 2026
BIABC Outlines Priorities Ahead of February 17 Provincial Budget
February 8, 2026
BC Small Businesses Want Action on Tariffs, Not Signals
February 2, 2026
BIABC Survey Highlights Growing Impact of Non-Violent Crime on Businesses - and why much of it goes unreported
January 15, 2026
BIABC Welcomes National Mutual Recognition Agreement as a Promising Step Toward Easier Interprovincial Trade
November 20, 2025
Budget Fails to Deliver Practical Tariff Support for Small Business
November 4, 2025
During Small Business Week, BIABC Urges Province to Match Words with Action on Liquor Policy
October 20, 2025
BIABC Welcomes Federal Bail Reform as Important Step Toward Safer Communities and Stronger Support for Small Businesses
October 17, 2025
Labour Disputes Underscore Urgent Need to Modernize Provincial Liquor Laws, Says BIABC
October 10, 2025
BIABC Supports UBCM Call for Permanent Housing Policy Roundtable
October 7, 2025
BIABC Labour Day Message: Businesses and Staff Need Safe, Secure Workplaces
August 25, 2025
BIABC Seeks Update on Provincial Government Tariff Response
July 22, 2025
BIABC Provides Input to Pre-Budget Process
June 24, 2025
BIABC Provides Input to Employment Standards Amendment Act
June 10, 2025
Survey Results Show Businesses Shifting Away From American Suppliers Even if it Comes at a Higher Cost
April 23, 2025
Businesses Surveyed to Establish Levels of Shift to Non-American Distributors
April 7, 2025
BC Budget a Missed Opportunity to Support Small Businesses as Tariff Impacts Set In
March 4, 2025
Threat of US Tariffs Create BC Budget Uncertainty but Underscores Need to Support Businesses
February 25, 2025
BIABC Embraces ‘Shop Local’ and ‘Buy Canadian’ But Cautions Against Unintended Consequences That May Harm Local Businesses
February 19, 2025
BIABC Calls on NDP Government to Support Business in the Face of Sweeping Tariffs
January 16, 2025
BIABC Urging Consumers to Rally Around Local Business
December 2, 2024
BIABC Announces New President
November 28, 2024
Critical Issues of Public Safety and Cost of Living Demand Urgent Response from New NDP Government
Octobe 30, 2024
BIABC Statement on Secure Care commitments in advance of Provincial Election
September 17, 2024
BIABC seeks commitments from BC's Political Parties to address critical safety & financial concerns impacting small business owners across the province
September 9, 2024
BIABC Labour Day Message: Business Owners and Front-line Staff Need a Safe Work Environment
August 27, 2024
Impact of Crime & Vandalism and the Cost of Doing Business Focal Points of BIABC Conference
April 23, 2024
Budget 2024 Brings Little Meaningful Relief to Cirtical Issues of Street Crime & the Cost of Doing Business
February 22, 2024