Throne Speech highlights from Victoria

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VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – In a pre-election Throne Speech, the BC Liberals says it’s payback time for taxpayers.

The Liberal government’s speech, read by Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon says with an expected $2.2 billion surplus in this year’s budget, relief is in the cards for taxpayers, but it didn’t specify what form it would take.

“After years of sacrifice by all of us in British Columbia, through challenging times, working together with a plan, your government is now in a position to pay you back,” read Guichon.

“Your government’s plan to control spending, balance budgets, and pay down the debt has resulted in growing surpluses. That money belongs to you. And in the coming budget, your government will provide financial relief to taxpayers while continuing to make investments in the services people rely on.”

However, the speech does not say what kind of financial relief the government plans to announce next week.

All we know is Premier Christy Clark has ruled out rebate cheques.

Clark says she doesn’t want to use the money to grow the government and says tax payers know best how to spend their own money

“Finding ways to give money back to citizens through lower taxes and lower fees — I’ve always thought that that’s the wise thing for any government to do.”

The speech also reiterated the government’s commitment to fight for softwood lumber, amid worries over the uncertain US market, which was further highlighted by the government naming former federal international trade minister David Emerson the new US trade envoy.

Guichon also touched on education in this province.

“British Columbia is investing a record 5.1 billion per year for public education and an overall investment of 7.5 billion in education and training each year,” Guichon said in her address.

“Average-per-pupil funding is now over 8,900, the highest ever, with an increase of 10,000 students in the past two years.”

She adds the province is also spending a $10 billion on infrastructure with highway improvements, Surrey LRT, and the Broadway subway line.

The government also says it will continue to fight for softwood lumber industries in the face of uncertainty with US markets.

Throne speeches typically focus on the government’s upcoming agenda, but given the upcoming spring election, the speech was widely expected to focus on the government’s past achievements, and it didn’t disappoint.

Past investments and policies in education, highways, pipelines and Metro Vancouver’s red-hot housing market were all mentioned.

The Liberals are seeking a fifth consecutive mandate when British Columbians head to the polls on May 9th.

Reaction pours in

Reaction continues to pour in following the speech.

Members of the BC Green Party are tweeting “the speech is largely about looking back. Our party is about looking forward.”

Other say “LNG is not the way forward for BC’s economy. The market isn’t there, and the risks are immense.”

The Pembina Institute’s Josha McNab says the Liberals aren’t protecting BCers as the province moves towards a low-carbon economy

“We were hoping to see more from the throne speech today in terms of helping to reduce BC’s carbon pollution. BC’s carbon pollution is continuing to go up and will go up until at least 2030 and that’s far too late to be bending the curve down,” says McNab.

“We feel that the Throne Speech today really didn’t help to protect British Columbia’s families and businesses as we transition into a low-carbon economy. There’s a huge opportunity for BC as we move toward a low-carbon economy and we need to be on the forefront of that. We didn’t see anything in the Throne Speech today that’s going to help position us to be competitive.”

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