Deficits are in the forecast for British Columbia’s budget, but that’s not stopping the New Democrat government from spending billions on health, housing and families.
Finance Minister Katrine Conroy said the government plans to invest in people during uncertain times, despite a deficit projection of $4.2 billion in 2023-2024, and $11 billion over three years.
“When times are tough, that’s exactly when you need someone in your corner,” she said in her budget speech to the legislature Tuesday.
The projected deficits follow an unexpected surplus in 2022-2023. The windfall, originally forecast at almost $6 billion, has been pared back to $3.6 billion after Premier David Eby’s government spent much of it on affordability, infrastructure and public safety initiatives….