A bit of chest thumping about B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 relative economic might at a Thursday afternoon luncheon had Kelowna Chamber of Commerce members cheering for Premier Christy Clark.
香蕉视频直播淩emember when (former Alberta Premier) Ralph Klein used to say, 香蕉视频直播榠f you want to get welfare, here香蕉视频直播檚 a bus pass, go to B.C.?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 Clark told the crowd gathered for her budget rundown, which emphasized a $264-million surplus on $48-billion in revenue for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
香蕉视频直播淣ow we are in the enviable position of being able to say to Albertans: 香蕉视频直播楥ome to B.C. get on a bus, get in your car bring your truck香蕉视频直播on香蕉视频直播檛 come and get welfare. Come to B.C. and get a job.香蕉视频直播�
Despite recent figures showing that Kelowna may be in a job slump, B.C. in general is expected to see more economic growth than any other province this year. The government itself has forecasted 2.4 per cent growth in real gross domestic product for 2016 while the B.C. Economic Forecast Council is projecting 2.7 per cent growth.
Part of that, explained Clark, will come from new residents driving things forward. This year alone, more than 48,200 newcomers are expected to move to B.C., with 13,000 from other provinces and 35,200 from other countries.
Growth in manufacturing, retail, tech, trade, film and tourism sectors is also set to offset low prices for commodities such as coal, copper, lumber, pulp and natural gas.
Natural gas isn香蕉视频直播檛 something that Clark is letting go of as a future economic powerhouse, however, despite the issues that sector has experienced.
香蕉视频直播淟NG is still going ahead,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淪uccess is not for quitters. (There is a) vision for the future and changing your future does not mean running the white flag up the flag pole the first time you see a problem.
香蕉视频直播淲e will get there on LNG. World demand will continue to grow as demand for clean energy and sources for energy in general continues to grow, but we香蕉视频直播檙e not there yet.香蕉视频直播�
Further acknowledging trouble in commodities, Clark went on to tell the crowd that 香蕉视频直播渋t香蕉视频直播檚 never going to be harder than this next year ahead.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲e certainly see what香蕉视频直播檚 happening in Alberta, our closest friend and neighbour, just getting hammered with what香蕉视频直播檚 going on with oil prices.
香蕉视频直播淲e see in China, one of our biggest trading partner, stock markets closing without notice,香蕉视频直播� she said, adding the US is still suffering from its recession, while Ontario is flagging under overwhelming debt.
香蕉视频直播淭hose are warning signs that every Canadian needs to heed. So when I say we need to keep our eyes on the ball I really mean it. We have worked hard and we have been very focused, but there has been no time to stay focused more than now.香蕉视频直播�
Focus, she said, should be on getting the 香蕉视频直播渇undamentals right.香蕉视频直播�
Expenditure highlights from Budget 2016 include a $3.1 billion investment in transportation infrastructure including highway upgrades and transit infrastructure, $2.9 billion for major health care projects that include a new centre for mental health and addictions, $2.5 billion for post-secondary schools, and $1.7 billion to 香蕉视频直播渕aintain, replace, renovate, expand and seismically upgrade香蕉视频直播� schools for students in kindergarten through Grade 12.
This year香蕉视频直播檚 budget also includes the Prosperity Fund, which will see the amount of $100 million put aside for a 香蕉视频直播渞ainy day.香蕉视频直播�
Although the Thursday update saw Clark香蕉视频直播檚 budget met with much fanfare, not everyone has been so fond of it.
香蕉视频直播淭his government could have chosen meaningful action to make life more affordable for families. Instead the budget continues Christy Clark香蕉视频直播檚 practice of taking more money from the pockets of British Columbians through hikes to MSP, hydro rates, ICBC rates, camping fees, ferry fares and more,香蕉视频直播� said New Democrat spokesperson for finance Carole James.
香蕉视频直播淭his budget illustrates that the premier香蕉视频直播檚 not there for hard-working B.C. families. She香蕉视频直播檚 there for herself and her political friends.香蕉视频直播�
BC Teachers香蕉视频直播� Federation President Jim Iker also gave it a fail.
香蕉视频直播淭he projected increase in funding is just another shell game that fails to account for increases in student enrollment and rising costs,香蕉视频直播� said Iker.
