With economic uncertainty as the backdrop, it was critical for the BC government to put forth a prudent budget. Finance minister Kevin Falcon acknowledged as much by reassuring British Columbians that the budget was built on fiscal discipline and lays a firm foundation for the future. Falcon even warned of the perils of additional government taxes, spending, and borrowing in the current economic environment, calling such measures potentially catastrophic.
bc budget
March 9, 2012
2:00AM
February 13, 2012
2:00AM
In 2011, most economic forecasters began the year rather optimistic. British Columbia had rebounded nicely from the 2009 recession and saw its economy grow at 3.0% in 2010, robust growth most forecasters thought would continue. Indeed, the BC governments Economic Forecast Council, a group of private-sector economists, predicted growth of 2.7% in 2011 and 3.0% for 2012.
March 23, 2010
3:00AM
With the federal and B.C. governments both tabling budgets within a week of the Winter Olympics' closing ceremonies, both governments had a chance to build on the tremendous momentum and positive spirit of the Games.
Instead, both levels opted for mediocrity, delivering uninspiring and timid budgets that will do little, if anything, to prepare this province and country for economic growth.
September 3, 2009
2:00AM
BCs September Budget Update is unlikely to live up to its promise of protecting vital services and building for the future. Instead, the big-spending, tax-increasing, debt-loving budget is a step back from BC's recent progress and will burden, rather than build for, the future.
Start with the seemingly unavoidable $2.8 billion deficit. According to Finance Minister Colin Hansen, the government was forced into deficit largely as a result of a loss of $2 billion in expected revenues. The $2 billion figure certainly captured the attention of the media.
April 28, 2009
2:00AM
After nearly eight years of strong economic performance, B.C., like nearly all North American jurisdictions, is facing a difficult economic period. Now, however, is not the time to reverse course on economic policies that successfully lifted B.C. out of its 1990s economic malaise. Instead, the top priority for B.C.s next government should be to further strengthen the provinces investment climate and competitiveness.
February 26, 2004
2:00AM
The BC Liberals third full budget, delivered this past Tuesday, offers a few positive measures to bring about fiscal responsibility; unfortunately, it was largely void of an overall vision for the future of the province on how to deliver prosperity.
On the positive side, the Liberals should be commended for balancing the provinces budget. In addition, BC became the first province in Canada to comply with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), making its books the most transparent in the country.