Article content

VICTORIA — Finance Minister Carole James tried this week to walk back what her own ministry was saying about the new speculation tax because it contradicted assurances from Premier John Horgan.

Horgan said the two per cent levy on the assessed value of properties deemed speculative was aimed at out of province residents and would not apply to British Columbians.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Vaughn Palmer: Weaver frustrated by NDP policies 'made up in press scrums' Back to video

But a fact sheet from the finance ministry indicated British Columbians would have to pay the tax up front on vacation homes and other secondary residences, though they could get at least some of the money back as a refund on their provincial income taxes.

“It’s not our intention to capture British Columbians who are paying taxes here,” James told reporters Wednesday as complaints piled up from British Columbians irate at the prospect of being treated as real estate speculators in their own province.

She went on to describe the tax as a work in progress, whose details would not be finalized until the enabling legislation is tabled in the fall.