Kamloops Liberal MLAs blast NDP for ‘squandering’ surplus
KAMLOOPS — No surprise here, but both Kamloops Liberal MLAs have reacted quite negatively to the B.C. NDP’s budget update in Victoria today.
The balanced budget forecasts a surplus of $246 million and attempts to make life more affordable for British Columbians by earmarking $208 million for affordable housing measures, by hiking disability rates, by cutting Medical Service Premiums in half, spending more on education and increasing personal income taxes on individuals earning over $150,000.
“Today’s budget is very, very disappointing. It does not include a plan to grow and sustain B.C.’s economy,” said Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone. “It does not include a jobs plan, it does not include a plan on how the certainty is there to attract investment from around the world. Instead if focuses on signficant spending increases. We’re going to see upwards of $3 billion in spending the next year, including the carbon tax. And income taxes are going up. They appear to be on track to squander the money we built up.”
Kamloops-North Thompson MLA and Environment Critic Peter Milobar called increases to personal income taxes and the carbon tax “troubling.”