B.C. throne speech forecasts slowdown but says it's not time to cut back on spending
B.C. throne speech forecasts slowdown but says it's not time to cut back on spending
Premier David Eby arrives with ministers before the start of the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. B.C. politicians are returning to the legislature for the spring sitting, starting with a throne speech laying out the government's goals for the months ahead. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
British Columbia's New Democrat government says it plans to put this year's projected budget surplus of almost $6 billion to work helping families and businesses as an economic slowdown looms and extra dollars are expected to dry up.
The government's throne speech, read by Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin in the legislature Monday, outlined a political agenda for the coming months that includes a plan to support people amid rising costs now and in the long term.
“Some would say we should respond to a downturn by pulling back, reducing services or by making people pay out of pocket for health care,” says the speech.
“There's too much at stake right now to pull back on supports for people who are only now finding their footing after the pandemic.”
House Leader Ravi Kahlon said it is prudent for the government to use the surplus money in the budget to invest in people.
“British Columbians have been clear to us it's vitally important that we find ways to support them in their needs now,” he said at a news conference following the throne speech. “We hear concerns from people that they need more supports.”
Kahlon sidestepped questions about the government posting a possible deficit budget.
A budget surplus of $5.7 billion was forecast late last year but was previously described by the government as a one-time event largely due to higher tax and natural resource revenues.
Premier David Eby was not at the legislature Monday for what would be his first throne speech since replacing former premier John Horgan.
Instead, he was in Ottawa with other premiers to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to negotiate increased funding for health care.
Opposition Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon said the government is continuing to make announcements but is lacking results.
The NDP has consistently said health care, public safety, housing affordability and cost-of-living challenges are priorities, but the results of their plans are non-existent, he said.
“I acknowledge this government is great at doing press releases and great at doing announcements,” said Falcon. “The problem is they are terrible at getting results.”
Wait times at B.C. walk-in clinics are among the longest in Canada, one in five people in B.C. do not have a family doctor and one million people are on waiting lists to see a specialist, he said.
Green Leader Sonia Furstenau said the government appears too focused on introducing initiatives without considering solutions that can produce measurable success.
The speech said a global economic slowdown is forecast and B.C. likely won't be in a budget surplus situation for long.
The idea that B.C. should respond to a looming downturn by cutting services when some people are still struggling after the COVID-19 pandemic was rejected.
The speech said the government will introduce new legislation this spring covering pay transparency, fighting organized crime and money laundering, and outlawing malicious non-consensual sharing of intimate photos and video.
The government will announce a refreshed housing strategy that will include investments to increase homes and services near transit station areas across B.C., the speech said.
“In the fall session, after working with local governments, homebuilders and communities, new laws will be introduced to turn that strategy into new affordable homes.”
The speech said the government will continue to put people first in the budget it introduces later this month.
“It will make record new investments to improve public health care and deliver more housing for middle-class families,” it said. “It will introduce new measures to address the cost of living, especially for those most vulnerable.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 6, 2023.
U.S. President Joe Biden arrived Thursday evening in Ottawa for a whirlwind 27-hour visit expected to focus on both the friendly and thorny aspects of the Canada-U.S. relationship, including protectionism and migration on both sides of the border.
Canada and the United States are negotiating a deal that could see asylum seekers turned back at irregular border crossings across the border, including Roxham Road in Quebec.
As the federal government looks to renegotiate the Safe Third Country Agreement with the U.S., an eastern Ontario mayor says his city needs more help from Ottawa to deal with the influx of asylum seekers arriving through irregular crossings like Roxham Road.
Amid renewed questions over the pervasiveness of alleged interference by China in Canadian elections and affairs broadly, opposition MPs voted Thursday afternoon to affirm a parliamentary committee's call for the federal government to strike a public inquiry.
A majority of Canadians have seen a mistake on their grocery receipts in the last year, according to a new survey conducted by Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University.
An asteroid discovered just last week will pass closer to the Earth than the orbit of the moon this weekend, an occurrence so rare it happens only once in a decade, according to NASA.
The number of Canadians receiving employment insurance benefits are at record lows and down 44 per cent from last year, new figures from Statistics Canada show.
Two Kanien'keha:ka (Mohawk) sisters from Montreal are on a mission that is close to their hearts: to save their ancestors' first language by developing video games young and old can play.
Following a court appearance Thursday, a B.C. woman facing more than 20 charges – including manslaughter – in connection with alleged druggings of men who used escort services was remanded into custody.
The man killed in West Vancouver earlier this week was a retired urologist who was involved in several legal disputes over valuable real estate, CTV News has learned.
The Alberta Energy Regulator has cited an energy company for causing a series of earthquakes, including the largest recorded tremblor in the province's history.
An Ontario man said he was shocked when his truck was stolen not once but twice, and the second time it was taken he was surprised to discover he was no longer covered for theft.
The Alberta Energy Regulator has cited an energy company for causing a series of earthquakes, including the largest recorded tremblor in the province's history.
For the first time, the owner of a building in Old Montreal has responded to questions about the fire — through his lawyer — addressing allegations that the building was unsafe.
The political class at the National Assembly has condemned the 'violent' and 'hateful' remarks that columnist Gilles Proulx allegedly made about Quebec solidaire MNAs during Richard Martineau's show on Qub radio in recent weeks.
The Tim Houston PC government remains firm in their promise they'll fix the health-care system by spending more taxpayer money on health than any previous government before.
Potato farmers on Prince Edward Island are taking the federal government to court due to the decision to restrict the movement of P.E.I. seed potatoes.
Manitoba First Nation police have arrested a man connected with a shooting on March 19 on Long Plain First Nation that resulted in the community going on lockdown.
Manitoba’s labour force is growing at a rate to supply enough workers for available positions into 2026, according to the province’s labour market outlook.
The ‘Catch the Ace’ jackpot is still up for grabs in Hagersville. There was no winner Thursday night so the total prize money is now an estimated $1,526,067.
The resurrection of Zellers is officially underway with the Cambridge location opening its doors to eager shoppers who lined up ahead of the store's official reopening.
A recent report from the province’s privacy commissioner says the Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (MACSI) failed to take appropriate steps after patient treatment files were discovered in a recycling bin.
The quick thinking and immediate actions of two people are credited with possibly saving the life of a Midland councillor after he collapsed at a meeting Wednesday evening.
Investigators with York Regional Police issued Canada-wide warrants for two men who they say are involved in the Richmond Hill attack on Ontario woman Elnaz Hajtamiri weeks before she was allegedly abducted.
An alleged victim of a former staff member of Legacy Christian Academy can now be identified after she successfully petitioned in court to have a publication ban lifted.
In the weeks leading up to Wednesday’s provincial budget, school divisions in Saskatchewan were expecting funding levels to increase, with the province repeatedly touting its $1 billion surplus.
The co-owners of a new liquidation store in North Bay, Samuel Quesnel and Chloé Boivenue, say they want to bring a treasure hunt shopping experience to the city.
Premier David Eby arrives with ministers before the start of the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. B.C. politicians are returning to the legislature for the spring sitting, starting with a throne speech laying out the government's goals for the months ahead. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
