Last week CBC reported cuts in social assistance services for British Columbia’s most challenged citizens. The story received almost no coverage in most other media, so it is probably worthwhile just to highlight what the government thinks must be cut to pay for their deficit.
On March 4th the government issued a press release with the [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Provincial budget & finance'
Assistance recipients on government hit list
March 8th, 2010 · Keith Reynolds · 8 Comments · Poverty, inequality & welfare, Provincial budget & finance
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Climate inaction and BC’s budget
March 3rd, 2010 · Marc Lee · No Comments · Climate change, Provincial budget & finance
The 2010 BC Budget was a disappointment on the climate action front. Even as Premier Campbell waxed poetic in the Globe about the impact of climate change on the 2010 Spring Games – with its sunny days, crocuses, daffodils and by the end, cherry blossoms making it fun for people on the street but a [...]
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BC Budget 2010 (notes from Iglika and Marc)
March 2nd, 2010 · Marc Lee · 5 Comments · Provincial budget & finance
For a document titled Building a Prosperous British Columbia, the 2010 BC Budget is underwhelming in its ambition. Budget 2010 shows a government talking a lot about the legacy of the Olympics but lacking any coherent vision of how to translate upbeat sentiments into real improvements in British Columbians’ standard of living.
This budget says “steady [...]
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BC’s budget deficit third smallest in Canada
March 1st, 2010 · Iglika Ivanova · 1 Comment · Economy, Provincial budget & finance, Transparency & accountability
Media attention may still be firmly focused on athletes and tourists today, but we’re already starting to see hints about what will dominate BC’s post-Olympics discourse.
The fear-mongering around our provincial debt and deficits is making a return
BC’s public sector: among the smallest in the country
February 25th, 2010 · Iglika Ivanova · No Comments · Employment & labour, Privatization, P3s & public services, Provincial budget & finance
Have you heard pundits say that BC’s public sector is too big or “bloated”? It’s an argument frequently used as an excuse to advocate for government spending cuts, but is it true? You may want to take a look at the numbers for yourself.
The CCPA just released a short report on the size of the [...]
Tags: provincial spending·public sector employment·spending cuts
Is it time to stop worrying about the economy?
February 22nd, 2010 · Iglika Ivanova · 1 Comment · Economy, Provincial budget & finance
If you read the papers in this province, you’d think BC had long forgotten about the recession. Every bit of economic good news is trumpeted enthusiastically, from small increases in employment to the latest growth forecast released by private sector economists.
Yet economic forecasting is a notoriously difficult business. Just a year ago, we saw BC’s [...]
Tags: economic forecasting·economic growth·Economy·recession·recovery
Throne speech rather unimaginative despite talk of leading change
February 9th, 2010 · Iglika Ivanova · 1 Comment · Provincial budget & finance
Today’s Throne speech marks a return to the optimistic tone that is typical of the start of each session of the legislature. Sure, there are the obligatory references to financial discipline and balancing the budget, but they come at the very end of the document and are a far cry from last summer’s bare cupboard [...]
Tags: throne speech
BC hearts Art. But only for the show off.
February 1st, 2010 · Iglika Ivanova · 6 Comments · Provincial budget & finance
The pedestrian stretch of Granville Street downtown has been brightened lately by a colourful display of public art projects, complete with benches for pedestrians to sit for a moment and enjoy the view. What a great idea, I thought to myself as I stopped to look at one of the sculptures. I always found Vancouver [...]
First the party, next the hangover
January 12th, 2010 · Marc Lee · 1 Comment · Climate change, Economy, Provincial budget & finance
It’s shocking to think that the 2010 Winter Games are now exactly one month away. Yes, the banners are dropping down the side of downtown buildings; huge tents are being erected anywhere there is open space; advertising from any but the Olympic sponsors has all but disappeared (I hereby challenge any Olympic athlete to eat [...]
Tags: Olympics
AG’s office changes policy
December 9th, 2009 · Keith Reynolds · No Comments · Privatization, P3s & public services, Provincial budget & finance, Transparency & accountability
BC’s Auditor General has made an important change in the way his office does its work that will help guarantee the independence of his office.
In the past, part of the money that paid for the operation of the AG’s Office came from providing contracted services to organizations like crown corporations and other agencies outside of [...]
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