A bit of chest thumping about B.C.含羞草研究社檚 relative economic might at a Thursday afternoon luncheon had Kelowna Chamber of Commerce members cheering for Premier Christy Clark.
含羞草研究社淩emember when (former Alberta Premier) Ralph Klein used to say, 含羞草研究社榠f you want to get welfare, here含羞草研究社檚 a bus pass, go to B.C.?含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫 Clark told the crowd gathered for her budget rundown, which emphasized a $264-million surplus on $48-billion in revenue for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
含羞草研究社淣ow we are in the enviable position of being able to say to Albertans: 含羞草研究社楥ome to B.C. get on a bus, get in your car bring your truck含羞草研究社on含羞草研究社檛 come and get welfare. Come to B.C. and get a job.含羞草研究社�
Despite recent figures showing that Kelowna may be in a job slump, B.C. in general is expected to see more economic growth than any other province this year. The government itself has forecasted 2.4 per cent growth in real gross domestic product for 2016 while the B.C. Economic Forecast Council is projecting 2.7 per cent growth.
Part of that, explained Clark, will come from new residents driving things forward. This year alone, more than 48,200 newcomers are expected to move to B.C., with 13,000 from other provinces and 35,200 from other countries.
Growth in manufacturing, retail, tech, trade, film and tourism sectors is also set to offset low prices for commodities such as coal, copper, lumber, pulp and natural gas.
Natural gas isn含羞草研究社檛 something that Clark is letting go of as a future economic powerhouse, however, despite the issues that sector has experienced.
含羞草研究社淟NG is still going ahead,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淪uccess is not for quitters. (There is a) vision for the future and changing your future does not mean running the white flag up the flag pole the first time you see a problem.
含羞草研究社淲e will get there on LNG. World demand will continue to grow as demand for clean energy and sources for energy in general continues to grow, but we含羞草研究社檙e not there yet.含羞草研究社�
Further acknowledging trouble in commodities, Clark went on to tell the crowd that 含羞草研究社渋t含羞草研究社檚 never going to be harder than this next year ahead.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淲e certainly see what含羞草研究社檚 happening in Alberta, our closest friend and neighbour, just getting hammered with what含羞草研究社檚 going on with oil prices.
含羞草研究社淲e see in China, one of our biggest trading partner, stock markets closing without notice,含羞草研究社� she said, adding the US is still suffering from its recession, while Ontario is flagging under overwhelming debt.
含羞草研究社淭hose are warning signs that every Canadian needs to heed. So when I say we need to keep our eyes on the ball I really mean it. We have worked hard and we have been very focused, but there has been no time to stay focused more than now.含羞草研究社�
Focus, she said, should be on getting the 含羞草研究社渇undamentals right.含羞草研究社�
Expenditure highlights from Budget 2016 include a $3.1 billion investment in transportation infrastructure including highway upgrades and transit infrastructure, $2.9 billion for major health care projects that include a new centre for mental health and addictions, $2.5 billion for post-secondary schools, and $1.7 billion to 含羞草研究社渕aintain, replace, renovate, expand and seismically upgrade含羞草研究社� schools for students in kindergarten through Grade 12.
This year含羞草研究社檚 budget also includes the Prosperity Fund, which will see the amount of $100 million put aside for a 含羞草研究社渞ainy day.含羞草研究社�
Although the Thursday update saw Clark含羞草研究社檚 budget met with much fanfare, not everyone has been so fond of it.
含羞草研究社淭his government could have chosen meaningful action to make life more affordable for families. Instead the budget continues Christy Clark含羞草研究社檚 practice of taking more money from the pockets of British Columbians through hikes to MSP, hydro rates, ICBC rates, camping fees, ferry fares and more,含羞草研究社� said New Democrat spokesperson for finance Carole James.
含羞草研究社淭his budget illustrates that the premier含羞草研究社檚 not there for hard-working B.C. families. She含羞草研究社檚 there for herself and her political friends.含羞草研究社�
BC Teachers含羞草研究社� Federation President Jim Iker also gave it a fail.
含羞草研究社淭he projected increase in funding is just another shell game that fails to account for increases in student enrollment and rising costs,含羞草研究社� said Iker.
