B.C.’s new financial plan is generating debate.
Finance Minister Michael de Jong introduced the Liberal government’s budget Tuesday.
“I am pleased to see us putting money into a whole lot of things,” said Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA.
“Extra money will go into the ministries of children and families and social development. If there is any place we can put it, I an pleased to see it there. We’ve been struggling there.”
The budget calls for $673 million in additional support for children, families and individuals in need over three years, including $217 million for the Ministry of Children and Family Development to support vulnerable youth and their families, and $456 million for the Ministry of Social Development and to support those in need and to increase monthly disability income assistance rates.
However, the official opposition is not impressed.
“The premier could have made this budget about tax fairness, but she chose to just tinker around the edges of the MSP tax, which amounts to little more than a shell game,” said John Horgan, NDP leader, in a release.
“This is not a budget for B.C. families. This budget continues the billion-dollar tax break for millionaires, and dings everyone else so Christy Clark can make a deposit to her slush fund to pay for her photo-ops.”
Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo, though, defends the changes to MSP, and says a single parent with two children will save between $840 and $1,200 a year.
“That’s a considerable amount of money.”
Kyllo also welcomes the budget’s focus on community infrastructure.
“There are additional dollars set aside for flood mitigation. We have to look at some of the challenges in the Shuswap with the spring freshet (runoff),” he said.
The budget’s rural dividend program is garnering top marks from the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce.
“While it won’t apply to the City of Vernon, the program for communities under 25,000 should be of value in helping many small and rural areas around us in their efforts to strengthen and diversify their economies and that should lead to a stronger region,” said Dan Rogers, chamber general manager.
Other parts of the budget are also supported by the chamber.
“The modest increase to the small business venture capital tax credit should also be well received by small business which makes up a large portion of the chamber’s current membership base,” said Rogers.