Finance Minister Carole James is expected to introduce a balanced budget on Tuesday but it won’t have a lot of new spending.
This is expected to be the NDP government’s third straight balanced budget. But James said keeping the province’s books in the black was more “challenging” than the last two years.
“There is no question this is a more moderate economic growth budget. It has certainly been more challenging. There are always more requests that there are resources for. That is why it is important to stay focused on people at the centre of everything,” James said.
“There is no question this was a more difficult year. We are certainly seeing a moderation in the global economy, which has an impact on British Columbia.”
James will buck an old tradition of getting new budget shoes, opting instead for her husband to shine a pair of old “practical” shoes.
The finance minister spent MOnday visiting with families at the family art festival at the Cedar Hill Community Centre in Saanich.
“Families really have been at the heart of what we have been doing as government and you will see that again tomorrow in the budget,” James said.
“We will focus once again on affordability for families.”
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