Why did BC United promise a tax cut? [Video]

Typically, late August is a quiet time in B.C. politics as the parties and their supporters rest up before diving into election mode ahead of voting day in October, so BC United raised eyebrows when they made a bombshell policy announcement in Victoria Tuesday.

Leader Kevin Falcon told reporters that if his party forms government, they would eliminate provincial income tax for the first $50,000, which would see 60 per cent of residents not paying any at all as a result.

“It will cost about $5.4 billion annually and no, services do not have to be cut,” he said, insisting there’s enough government waste and inefficiency to clean up.

“One of the ways we can be sure government can pay for things is make sure we have a growing economy,” Falcon added, highlighting his priority is fiscal responsibility in order to help seniors and other people struggling with the cost of living.

He certainly garnered some …