Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press
The British Columbia government plans to spend $8.7 billion over three years on infrastructure as well as on supports for families and businesses to help build the economic recovery from Covid-19.
Finance Minister Selina Robinson said Tuesday the deficit for the 2021-22 budget is projected to be $9.7 billion, lower than the $13.6-billion forecast last December, due to higher-than-expected revenues and lower government spending.
The budget forecasts three consecutive years of billion-dollar deficits with the provincial debt hitting almost $103 billion and the prospect of a return to balanced books in seven to nine years’ time, Robinson said at a news conference.
Dirk Meissner
The British Columbia government plans to spend $8.7 billion over three years on infrastructure as well as on supports for families and businesses to help build the economic recovery from Covid-19.
Finance Minister Selina Robinson said Tuesday the deficit for the 2021-22 budget is projected to be $9.7 billion, lower than the $13.6-billion forecast last December, due to higher-than-expected revenues and lower government spending.
The budget forecasts three consecutive years of billion-dollar deficits with the provincial debt hitting almost $103 billion and the prospect of a return to balanced books in seven to nine years’ time, Robinson said at a news conference.
B.C. plans a $9.7-billion deficit to build COVID recovery: minister
Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press
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VICTORIA The British Columbia government plans to spend $8.7 billion over three years on infrastructure as well as on supports for families and businesses to help build the economic recovery from COVID-19.
Finance Minister Selina Robinson said Tuesday the deficit for the 2021-22 budget is projected to be $9.7 billion, lower than the $13.6 billion forecast last December, due to higher-than-expected revenues and lower government spending.
The budget forecasts three consecutive years of billion-dollar deficits with the provincial debt hitting almost $103 billion and the prospect of a return to balanced books in seven to nine years time, Robinson said at a news conference.
“From day one, our government has had people’s backs,” she said. “That will never change. We will continue to protect people’s health and livelihoods until the pandemic has passed.”
The government now expects the past year’s deficit to come in at $8.1 billion instead of the previous forecast of $13.6 billion. That’s largely due to higher-than-anticipated revenues, lower spending and the improved performance of ICBC and other agencies, Robinson said.
Still, the government expects to run an even higher deficit of $9.7 billion in the coming year before the fiscal picture begins to improve. It’s unclear when the province will return to balanced budgets.
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