BC Conservatives call out NDP after Eby waffles on $1,000 rebate

The BC Conservatives have called out the NDP after David Eby hinted that his promised grocery rebate would be shelved for the foreseeable future.

The premier placed the blame at the feet of incoming United States president Donald Trump, whose tariff threats have plunged the province, and country, into economic uncertainty.

"What we're needing to do is to be agile, to be able to support British Columbians as these effects materialize," Eby said during a press conference on Thursday, asking people to "assume the worst but hope for the best ... and to prepare accordingly."

"In terms of the rebate," he added, "in terms of any government program, our number one priority right now is protecting BC families from this threat, ensuring that government's in a position to help people, and to make sure that we're delivering on our commitment to British Columbians to protect them and support them."

Were the policy enacted, individuals would receive $500 while families would be given $1,000 to help offset the high cost of living in the province. It was projected to cost around $1.8 billion for the first year, then $1.3 billion annually when it transformed into an income tax cut.

"David Eby never really intended to give British Columbian families $1,000 of much needed relief," BC Conservative leader John Rustad wrote in a post on X. "That's why he's been slow rolling this rebate since day one."

Kelowna-Centre MLA Kristina Loewen called it "another lie on the pile of lies."

"There goes your rebate," she lamented. "So much for Eby helping families when they need it most. Just more pain for British Columbians."

"If I was any less shocked I'd be taking a nap," Director of Communications Brad Zubyk added. "Tariffs or not, the Eby NDP has racked up more debt than the province can handle. Coupled with a loss of private sector jobs and an explosion of public sector jobs the rebate was never going to happen."

While on the campaign trail, Eby said the rebate was "one of the first things we're gonna do." The move came on the heels of the Conservatives "Rustad Rebate," which would have come into effect later than that proposed by the NDP.

"Rustad Rebate? More like Rustad long wait!" Eby quipped at the time.