Builders happy, lawyers concerned about latest budget

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Homebuilders say the new budget is good news for job creation and economic growth.

Peter Simpson with the Greater Vancouver Homebuilders’ Association says the $10,000 one-time income tax credit for first time new homebuyers will help those who have often relied on the bank of mom and dad.

“If this is strictly on new homes, then it will help to spur on construction jobs as well, so overall I think it’s very good news,” Simpson says.

The new credit is in a further boost after a major HST rebate was announced last week for first time homebuyers purchasing a new home worth up to $850,000.

Meanwhile, BC lawyers say the province’s budget does nothing to fix the crisis the justice system is facing. There is more than $200 million in additional money for the Ministry of Justice, but that money is largely directed to maintaining existing levels of resources and lawyers say it’s not enough.

Sharon Matthews of the Canadian Bar Association says the budget merely maintains the status quo.

“We will continue to see cases stayed, and we will continue to see people who are representing themselves in court, where they should have the assistance of a lawyer,” she says.

Finance Minister Kevin Falcon says the justice system needs fundamental reform, rather than just more money, and that an ongoing review of the system will help determine what changes are needed.

BC Lawyers say the budget does nothing to unclog the province’s crowded courtrooms.

Liquor distribution warehouses to be privatized

The union representing liquor distribution workers is fearing for jobs as the province moves to privatize two major warehouses to help pay down the deficit.

The news came as a bit of a shock to Darryl Walker, who represents the union for workers with the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB).

“It was kind of, like, dropped out of the sky on us this morning and so we’re going to have to settle down with our caucus and figure it out, and of course, we’re in bargaining now,” he said. “As you can imagine, this is going to impact bargaining.”

The budget talks about selling off the warehouses, not the LDB itself. There are about 500 workers at those warehouses, and Walker says he will be looking for assurances their jobs are protected.

Carbon tax on ‘life support’

The Wilderness Committee says this budget does little in terms of helping the environment, and campaigner Ben West is also very worried about the future of the carbon tax.

“Perhaps you could say it’s on life support right now,” he said. “It’s a very important symbol of climate action in BC, but of course if it stays at the current price, many economists are saying it doesn’t provide adequate price signals to actually get people to change their behaviour.”

He says the budget continues to focus on outdated levels of exploitation of resources with little regard for climate change commitments.