(Image Credit: Canadian Press)

By Doug Collins

ONE MAN'S OPINION

COLLINS: Old songs about the future may be more accurate than we thought 

Feb 19, 2026 | 6:05 AM

IT WASN’T THAT MANY YEARS AGO that we went through what I call the period of “death music.” 

So many hit songs contained reference to murder, suicide the kind of depressing songs that made you wonder why you even existed. 

I had some of those feelings Tuesday as I listened to the B.C. budget. I thought that perhaps some of those old dismal songs may not have been as inaccurate as I thought. 

More taxation, government layoffs, program cutbacks, less spending on critical programs, delays in starting other critical programs. It’s a budget offering little in the way of hope to ever get rid of the multi-billion-dollar deficit that threatens our economic future. 

Even with all the cuts, we won’t get a balanced budget. And that is perhaps the scariest projection of all. My boss from way back used to say, “I’m an optimist but I’m also a realist.’ I always used to wonder how that worked. 

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This week, I may have had a peek into the future. I could see a bit of hope that we may eventually straighten some things around, but I also think it will be many years before we can really start to feel a little more at ease. 

But as prices continue to skyrocket, I feel the realists will rule the roost for some time to come. 

I’m Doug Collins and that’s One Man’s Opinion.

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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.