Provincial Finance Minister Carole James says it 香蕉视频直播渇eels like a lifetime香蕉视频直播� since she tabled the 2020 provincial budget in February, just four months ago.

She observed the economy had already been slowing down, with 香蕉视频直播渕oderation香蕉视频直播� in economic growth across the globe, and so took that into account in building the budget.

香蕉视频直播淲e made sure we had a strong, resilient economic foundation to be able to build from,香蕉视频直播� James said. 香蕉视频直播淲e certainly knew there were going to be challenges ahead, when it came to moderation, but I don香蕉视频直播檛 think any of us could imagine the kind of situation that we香蕉视频直播檙e all living through now.

香蕉视频直播淭his is unlike any challenge that we香蕉视频直播檝e faced,香蕉视频直播� James said. 香蕉视频直播淐OVID-19 has impacted every sector, every family, every community, every part of our community.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲hen we香蕉视频直播檙e talking about businesses being hit, that香蕉视频直播檚 individuals and families as well, not only the business owners but in fact the employees.香蕉视频直播�

James noted that more than 300,000 jobs have been lost in British Columbia because of the pandemic.

She was the guest speaker in a Surrey Board of Trade 香蕉视频直播渄igital town hall香蕉视频直播� via Zoom. Monday香蕉视频直播檚 topic was 香蕉视频直播淐OVID-19: Relief, Restart and Recovery for Surrey and B.C.香蕉视频直播�

The finance minister said while she knows people are 香蕉视频直播渒een香蕉视频直播� to get back to work, 香蕉视频直播渨e need to do that in a very planned, and a very careful, and a very measured approach.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 want to get ahead of ourselves,香蕉视频直播� she said.

James said $1.5 billion of B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 $5 billion COVID plan has been earmarked for economic recovery. 香蕉视频直播淥nce again, I think it香蕉视频直播檚 critical to note that we did that from the start.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 one-time money,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲e will be gathering the feedback, as we are doing now, through ministries meeting with their sectors, through the premiers table and through other areas. Individual business ideas have been coming forward as well. We香蕉视频直播檒l be making a determination around where those dollars can best be used.

James said while she 香蕉视频直播渄oesn香蕉视频直播檛 want to pre-determine any processes,香蕉视频直播� she expects education will be 香蕉视频直播渁 big discussion香蕉视频直播� when it comes to how that money will be allocated.

香蕉视频直播淒o we look at further training, and skills training for the kinds of youth who are having to re-tool for new kinds of jobs, perhaps, or new industries?香蕉视频直播�

James said the government is tracking the impact the pandemic has had on particular sectors and age groups. For example, Stats Canada released employment-related figures last week, she noted, that show 香蕉视频直播渢he youth are particularly impacted, particularly facing challenges, 18 to 24-year-olds. And that香蕉视频直播檚 no surprise when you look at the sectors that are most impacted 香蕉视频直播� retail, restaurants, bars.香蕉视频直播�

On rent assistance for business owners, she said, last week the government brought in an emergency order to ensure that if a business is able to apply for the program and fit the criteria, but their landlord isn香蕉视频直播檛 interested in applying, there will not be an eviction. 香蕉视频直播淎nd that will stay in place as long as the federal program is in place and the emergency order香蕉视频直播檚 in place.香蕉视频直播�

The provincial government also brought in a $1,000 emergency benefit for workers and in July it will 香蕉视频直播渂oost香蕉视频直播� the climate action tax credit. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e increasing that payment.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e deferred everything from the employers health tax to the PST to the hotel tax, to the carbon tax,香蕉视频直播� James said. 香蕉视频直播淲e also cut property taxes. The school portion, which id the provincial portion of property taxes, we have cut by on the average about 20 per cent, which again gives that immediate relief.香蕉视频直播�

She said that while we have a 香蕉视频直播渃hallenge香蕉视频直播� ahead, 香蕉视频直播淚 do feel optimistic about our recovery.香蕉视频直播�

James said the largest capital budget in B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 history is contained in Budget 2020.

香蕉视频直播淪o we have built in there the kind of infrastructure that also will assist as we look ahead, in to creating jobs. We have a large amount of infrastructure, for everything from hospitals to roads to bridges to transit, and that is in every corner of British Columbia, which will again provide us with a very good base to be able to provide that infrastructure spending and get those jobs going in British Columbia as well,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e not leaving people behind.香蕉视频直播�

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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