VANCOUVER –BC Conservative leader John Rustad is refusing to come clean about his plan to cancel the speculation tax. When asked directly today, Rustad dodged the question:

Radio Canada: “The NDP this morning announced that they would double the speculation and vacancy tax. I want to know, if you would be elected, would you axe that tax?”

John Rustad: “That's certainly something we need to look at. But we have not made a commitment one way or the other to that at this stage."

Video of the exchange is available here.

Rustad has opposed the speculation tax since 2018, and his candidate, Mike Morden, has openly promised to scrap it. Rustad voted against the tax and has called it a “tax grab.”

In response to a direct question about the Speculation Tax at the Vancouver Board of Trade in June, Rustad said: “Whether it's foreign buyers, whether it is speculators, whether it is vacant properties, whether it is short term rentals…what you need to do is you need to create the incentives…not by taxing people.”

In a social media post, Rustad said, “then comes talk about curbing speculation and stopping profits made on real estate. Think about that for a moment. The greatest asset most people will ever own is their home with the hopes it will appreciate in value over time. Is the NDP saying this needs to be stopped?”

The tax has returned 20,000 homes to the housing market in Metro Vancouver. By hiding his plan, Rustad is protecting wealthy speculators at the expense of families struggling with housing affordability.

Ravi Kahlon, BC NDP Candidate for Delta North:

“John Rustad has opposed the Speculation Tax since 2018. Today - two weeks before an election - he claimed he hasn't made up his mind. He doesn't want you to know he's planning to scrap it because it will help speculators and drive costs up for everyone else. He's a risk we can't afford.”