B.C. Liberal budget puts squeeze on NDP’s big-ticket promises, say experts
VICTORIA — The Liberal government’s new budget tries to put the squeeze on British Columbia’s Opposition New Democrats, just weeks before the start of a spring election campaign, say political experts.
The campaign-style budget delivers several blows to the NDP by erasing much of the available surplus, cutting medical service premiums in half and increasing spending on health, education and children’s issues, said Hamish Telford, a political science professor at the University of the Fraser Valley.
The budget presented on Tuesday also leaves little room for the New Democrats to fund their big-ticket promises of $10-a-day childcare and $15-per-hour minimum wage without considering raising taxes or running deficits, he said.
“In the first instance it really tries to kneecap the NDP in terms of major policy planks the NDP might want to pursue,” Telford said.