The B.C. government is pausing the planned Oct. 1, 2026, expansion of PST on professional services including architecture, engineering and geoscience through a temporary regulation.

Premier David Eby announced that the scheduled October 1, 2026, implementation of PST on professional services is temporarily halted due to ongoing economic uncertainty and trade tensions with the United States

“There’s a time to stay the course and there’s a time to adjust. This is a time to adjust,” he said. “Delaying these changes until well after Trump’s disastrous trade war is over will give businesses some breathing room as they navigate tariffs and bans while pivoting to other markets.”

The government said savings for people, local governments and businesses is estimated at approximately $260 million in 2026-27.

As a result, the PST exemption will be maintained on professional services businesses, including accounting and bookkeeping, architectural, geoscientist and engineering services, non-residential real estate commissions and services, and security and private investigation services.

The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade welcomed the news.

“The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade made stopping the PST expansion our top recommendation to government as part of the response to the trade war and tariffs,” said president and CEO Bridgitte Anderson.

“We appreciate that the government listened to British Columbians, businesses, and community organizations that raised practical concerns about the impact these changes would have had on affordability, investment, and economic growth.