BC government writing off MSP premiums that aren’t collected: CTF
Posted April 11, 2016 4:56 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has dug up figures it says proves the BC government has been writing off MSP premiums that haven’t been collected.
A Freedom Of Information request put the cost for MSP tax debt at $340 million over the last six years.
Finance Minister Mike De Jong wasn’t able to say whether the government will be trying to recoup any of that cash.
“We take the obligations seriously, and happily the vast majority of British Columbians take the obligation to remit MSP premiums seriously… now there are circumstances where people find themselves in distress.”
De Jong believes MSP has been made as affordable as possible and calls the system fair but admits sometimes people can’t pay. “That can account for a portion but not all; we have obviously increased the premium assistance available to lower income British Columbians and seniors.”
Jordan Bateman with the CTF disagrees, pointing out the government can legally try and get the money back, but writing it off in the meantime makes that unlikely.
He says the hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid premiums prove the taxes are unfair and inefficient.
“Now is the time for some substantial changes to make it fair,” he argues. “The premier herself has called the system antiquated; fortunately she has the power to change it.”
The BC government hiked MSP premiums in the latest provincial budget.
