What will today’s B.C. budget bring?

Feb 19, 2019 | 6:39 AM

VICTORIA —  British Columbia’s finance minister says poverty and climate change are major focus areas of the budget she will deliver today.

    Carole James says the budget will include details of the government’s poverty reduction strategy and its Clean BC program to fight climate change.

    The New Democrats passed legislation last year to cut the overall poverty rate by 25 per cent over five years and promised to legislate cuts to greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.

    James says her budget builds on the minority government’s goals of making life more affordable, improving services and ensuring a sustainable economy.

    She says B.C.’s growing economy and low jobless rate allow the government to pursue social, environmental and economic initiatives.

    The NDP said in its throne speech last week that affordability will be the hallmark of its initiatives in the coming months.

    Kamloops Council has a number of projects they hope will come up in the budget, at least on a general basis.

    And they’re hoping that there is an announcement about distribution of cannabis sales revenue. 

    The B.C. government is expected to announce at some point soon a breakdown of how much revenue will go to the province, and how much to municipalities. 

    (The Canadian Press)<