Putting people first: The first seven months and first full budget of John Horgan’s B.C. New Democrat government

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VICTORIA – Last week – seven months after being sworn in – Finance Minister Carole James delivered the first full budget that puts people first after 16 long years of BC Liberal neglect.

In just seven months, Premier John Horgan and the B.C. New Democrat government have done more for British Columbians than the B.C. Liberals could do in 16 years. Here’s a quick look:

Budget 2018

After years of neglect, British Columbians finally have a budget that puts them first. Here are just three key highlights:

  • This includes our commitment to the largest housing investment in the history of our province, building almost 34,000 units across the province – units of mixed-income social housing, new beds for students at colleges and universities, and units dedicated for people who are homeless.
  • We have introduced measures to address the effects of speculation in the real estate markets.
  • Budget 2018 also offers the largest investment in child care in B.C. history with a $1-billion child care investment over three years to lower costs for parents, increase the number of child care spaces, and make sure that those spaces meet quality care standards. As many as 86,000 British Columbians will be eligible for an affordable child care benefit, which will provide up to $1,250 per month to reduce child care fees.
  • MSP fees have been cut in half this year, and will be eliminated altogether by Jan. 1, 2020, saving families up to $1800 a year.

Along with the steps taken in the budget, the B.C. New Democrat government have also taken bold action for affordability, good jobs across the province, better services for people, and a better B.C.

Affordability

Good Jobs Across the Province

Better Services for People

  • Our September budget update included a record $14.6 billion in capital investments over three years, building the schools, hospitals, roads, and transit people depend on.

Better B.C.

  • Modernizing B.C.’s democracy:
    • Passed legislation to hold a referendum to give people the power to change our current voting system to a system of proportional representation.
    • Legislation introduced to amend the Constitution Act to reduce the number of seats required for recognized political party status from four to two.
    • Changed the fixed date election to a Saturday in October.
    • Strengthen the institutional stability of government in the event, for example, of a natural disaster.
  • Introduced legislation to toughen the rules around political lobbying.
  • Made implementing TRC Calls to Action and UNDRIP a cross-government priority in ministers’ mandate letters.
  • Banned big money provincially and municipally from B.C. politics.
  • Taking action to protect our environment, economy and our coast from the drastic consequence of a diluted bitumen spill.
  • Defended B.C.’s interests against the threat of increased tanker traffic by participating in Federal Court of Appeal hearings on the federal government’s approval of the Kinder Morgan Pipeline.