Image Credit: Flickr / Province of B.C.

By Finance Minister Selina Robinson

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Stronger together with Budget 2022

Mar 9, 2022 | 5:27 PM

BRITISH COLUMBIANS HAVE FACED incredible challenges in the past few years. From the poisoned drug supply and COVID-19 to the devastating impacts of climate-related disasters, we continue to be tested.

We are at our best when we work together and look out for each other. We all know that we are stronger together. Budgets are about choices and demonstrate a government’s priorities, and that is why Budget 2022 prioritizes investments to create a stronger society, economy and environment. In this budget we chose to support people now and to set us all up for a better future, continuing our commitment to building a stronger B.C. It builds on investments we have made in people – like health care, child care, connectivity and housing. These historic investments have provided B.C. with a foundation of strength to build on.

We know that we can foster a brighter future for our families, children and youth a future that leaves no one behind. The strength of our economy is intertwined with the well-being of people, communities and the climate and through this lens we built a budget to get us through this difficult time together.

The services we all rely on, like health care, child care and housing, have supported people through the pandemic and recent climate-related disasters. Budget 2022 continues meaningful investments to ensure that British Columbians have the services that they rely on when they need it.

Affordable, accessible child care is a priority for our government, and as we continue to our planned $10/day care, Budget 2022 acts to save parents money by cutting average fees to approximately $20 per day, while delivering 40,000 new licensed spaces in the next seven years.

1000 WAYS TO HEAL

1000 WAYS TO HEAL: Staying Human in Heavy Times

Feb 17, 2026

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: How far out of the box should we think?

Feb 15, 2026

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Peters' Tumbler Ridge commentary was misplaced, lazy

Feb 14, 2026

We continue to strengthen health and mental health services with new urgent and primary care centres, and new cancer care centres that are starting planning for Kamloops and Nanaimo. We are working in partnership with the First Nations Health Authority to bring care closer to home with new First Nations primary care centres. We are reducing surgery and scan wait times and speeding up emergency response times by hiring more paramedics and dispatchers.

Budget 2022 also invests in a proactive approach to prevent and respond to homelessness through rent supplements with integrated supports and extending support for youth in care until age 27. Planning is underway to expand the new Complex Care housing model to at least 20 more sites in communities throughout the province, including in the Interior and Northern health regions.

This year we have experienced the destructive consequences of climate change as communities that were scorched by heat and wildfires in summer experienced flooding and mudslides only months later. I know this has been an especially challenging time for people in Kamloops and surrounding areas.

Budget 2022 also makes important investments to build back better from recent disasters and ensure people and communities are protected from future climate-related events. We are moving the BC Wildfire Service to a proactive year-round model, supporting local governments through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, supporting Indigenous-led emergency management priorities and strengthening our defenses through the Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy.

The November 2021 floods were B.C.’s biggest-ever agricultural disaster, and they have resulted in our biggest response. We recently announced $228 million in joint federal-provincial support to help flood-impacted farmers recover, return to operations and to strengthen our food security and economy in B.C.

We are also continuing the fight against climate change by making clean transportation and clean energy the more affordable option for homeowners and businesses, by removing the PST from electric vehicles and heat pumps and supporting industry to reduce emissions.

Budget 2022 invests in more resilient infrastructure with new hospitals, long-term care homes, schools, highways and transit. In Kamloops, projects underway include expanding Valleyview Secondary and replacing Parkcrest Elementary following the 2019 fire. There is a new patient care tower coming to Royal Inland Hospital and six affordable housing projects either recently completed or underway. Each and every British Columbian deserves a comfortable home and a safe school to learn in.

Budget 2022 is making sure people are able to benefit from a growing economy by investing in an inclusive, sustainable, and innovative economy that works for everyone. Relationship building is key to our government, and we are committed to advancing meaningful reconciliation. The creation of a new Declaration Act Secretariat will guide government to ensure laws and policies are consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and are developed in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples. Through our Stronger BC Economic Plan, we’re investing in an inclusive and clean economy and training workers for the jobs of the future. We’re investing in B.C.’s life sciences, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors, building an economy that works for more people and is ready to seize future opportunities.

The road ahead is long as we rebuild and repair the damage left by a difficult year. This budget helps people now and looks ahead to an even stronger future.

We believe in the strength and resilience of British Columbians. During tragedies, we have seen neighbours and communities helping one another and during the pandemic we have supported one another and worked to keep our most vulnerable safe and healthy. We have shown that we are stronger together. Our government is dedicated to supporting and building on our collective resilience by supporting the environmental, social and economic strengths in our province. We will meet challenges head-on and we will look to the opportunities of tomorrow together.

——

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.