MP Bachrach secures tax break for the people of Haida Gwaii

SMITHERS– On Monday, MP Taylor Bachrach (Skeena-Bulkley Valley), secured an important tax deduction for residents of Haida Gwaii after years of Liberal delays.

The government’s Fall Economic Statement includes a commitment to restore the full Northern Residents Tax Deduction for Haida Gwaii residents, something Bachrach has been pushing for since first being elected.

“Everyone’s feeling the pinch of the high cost of living,” said Bachrach. “That’s especially true for who call Haida Gwaii home. Being isolated from the mainland makes life much more expensive, which is why restoring the full tax deduction has been such a high priority.”

The Northern Residents Tax Deduction is meant to compensate for the higher cost of living in remote communities. In the early 90s, the Liberals brought in a new system that cut Haida Gwaii’s access to the deduction by half, something the Harper Conservatives refused to reverse.

“There are few issues islanders raise with me more frequently than this tax deduction,” said Bachrach. “When we speak together with one voice, we can make a difference. After decades of both Liberals and Conservatives ignoring our concerns, this is a big win for all Haida Gwaii residents.”

The Fall Economic Statement commitment reflects the contents of bill C-280, the Haida Gwaii Residents Tax Deduction Act, which Bachrach tabled in 2021.