BC to be an emerging global economy by 2018

HST report: giant leap forward for investment, jobs.

Ministry of Finance.

Sales tax harmonization and corporate tax cuts will increase capital investment by $14.4 billion and result in a net increase of 141,000 jobs by the end of the coming decade according to a report released today by economist and tax expert Jack Mintz, announced Finance Minister Colin Hansen.

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Electricity rate increase is ‘hidden tax’ — Macdonald

29 per cent BC Hydro rate increase a hidden tax on consumers: Macdonald.

Tuesday’s BC Liberal budget contains an unfair and hidden tax on consumers by forcing at 29 per cent increase on BC Hydro ratepayers, says Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.

“The BC Liberals have found a new way to tax the average citizen that they hope you will never notice,” said Macdonald. “Buried deep in this week’s provincial budget is a requirement for BC Hydro, a crown corporation, to provide an extra $254 million to government this year alone, and the only way for BC Hyrdo to do that is to increase hydro rates.”

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Lower corporate taxes, reduced revenues, resulted in ‘good’ budget

It would seem that at least two people are happy with Colin Hansen’s ‘stay the course’ budget – Mr. Hansen himself and John Pankratz, FCGA, the President of the Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia (CGA-BC). Mr. Pankratz believes that this budget will help the province emerge from the global economic crisis. “While there are no new major initiatives, this is a budget that is based on prudent financial management and sound economic principles that will benefit small- and medium-sized business. And that’s good for British Columbia, which is good for you and me,” he says.

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200,000 sign petition against HST ‘broken promises’

Anger about the BC Budget has exploded from the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association. CFRA Western Canada Vice President, Mark von Schellwitz has taken aim at the BC government about broken promises to the industry. Nearly 200,000 signatures have been gathered on a petition opposing the new restaurant meals tax that will result from the implementation of the HST but the government has ignored the concerns of these business owners, their employees and their customers.

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Union displeased with ’status quo’ budget

While BC Government Finance Minister is smiling about his ministry’s commitment to health care, the Health Sciences Association of BC, the union that represents 16,000 diagnostic, clinical and rehabilitation specialists, is not. Reid Johnson, President of the HSA is warning British Columbians to brace themselves for yet another round of cuts to health care services around the province.

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BC budget highlights

BC Budget 2010 was released in the BC Legislature the afternoon of March 2 by Finance Minister Colin Hansen. The following are highlights of the budget.

by BC Liberal Party.

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BC budget, without rose-colored glasses

With the last Olympic hurrah having faded into the history books and the ink barely dry on BC Finance Minister’s Budget, the province came back down to earth today with the sobering realization that our economic woes are far from over.

Colin Hansen may be happy with his budget but not everyone thinks it’s so great. B.C. Federation of Labor President, Jim Sinclair is downright mad! “The success of the Olympics cannot hide the fact BC is still in the grips of a deep economic recession”, he said. “BC is still losing jobs, 4,200 full-time jobs in January alone, yet there is nothing in this budget that will protect or create jobs. Worse still, budget cuts to public services and chronic under-funding will lead to even more job losses and delay our economic recovery.”

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‘Revenue neutral’ HST to fund medical services

A Budget that benefits nobody but the Liberals.

by Dean Skoreyko, BC Conservative Party.

The new BC Liberal budget is another step in the wrong direction for this government, in a series of wrong steps dating back to 2001. The new budget increases record spending, puts us on a path for record debt, and continues to confirm the myth that Gordon Campbell’s government runs a sound economy.

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BC cuts fresh-produce subsidies

Macdonald defends farmers’ market coupon project. BC Liberals cut funding that provided fresh produce to low-income families.

In his response to the budget speech yesterday, Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald spoke out in support of an innovative program that has been slashed by the BC Liberal budget.

“The Farmers’ Market Coupon project was a great idea that provided fresh fruits and vegetables to food bank users, supporting healthy eating habits as well as local farmers. It was a win-win situation,” said Macdonald.

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Funding medical services with HST a ‘desperate move to overcome opposition to the HST’

BC Liberal budget all about service cuts and the HST.

British Columbians need a government that will focus on strategies to promote economic recovery, but instead the BC Liberal government has introduced a budget that cuts public services and brings in the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), says Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.

“I believe that people in this area will be disappointed in this budget,” said Macdonald. “There is no indication that the BC Liberals have any plan to improve the lives of rural British Columbians.

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