During her pre-budget press conference, held at a school where the province has invested in a food aid program, the minister reiterated the government’s intentions. We spend for people, we spend to help people, we spend to make sure people get the support and services they needShe explains.

Katrine Conroy suggested Tuesday’s budget would favor massive investment over fiscal discipline.

” We expect deficits in the next few years. We know things won’t be as rosy as they were this year. »

In December, economists expected the province’s economy to slow. According to TD Bank, the GDP Adjusted for inflation, they are expected to shrink by 0.5% in 2024 and 0.3% in 2024.

Last year, the province already forecast a deficit of $5.5 billion, but the economic recovery and better-than-expected revenues turned that deficit into a surplus of almost $6 billion.

The minister also confirmed that the expected surpluses will be fully spent by March 31.

This will be the first budget of Katrine Conroy as finance minister. The member of West Kootenay disregarded the tradition of the minister buying shoes on the eve of the budget.

I’m very thrifty, I didn’t buy new shoes but I waxed mine yesterday and they will be clean, special and stylish for the budgetshe said.

The first 100 days

On Saturday the Prime Minister David Ebi announced another in a speech marking 100 days of his mandate affordability credit which will be paid to families from April; a reiteration of the credit announced when he was sworn in.

The Prime Minister confirmed that the budget will reflect his government’s priorities as outlined in the Speech from the Throne: healthcare and housing for the middle class. We will build affordable housing and expand access to health care, including mental health and addiction services.

If the government has been stingy with details so far, says the Minister of Health Adrian Dix Promised big investments in healthcare earlier this month.

Other media also reported that the government Ebi intends to unveil a billion-dollar mental health and addiction treatment plan, the outlines of which were proposed by the official opposition earlier this month.

Since he was sworn in David Ebi announced $2 billion in various measures to make life more affordable, $1 billion on community infrastructure and $500 million on housing.

The opposition makes its demands

In an interview on the eve of the budget on Monday, the leader of the Liberal Party Kevin Falcon expressed concern about the province’s finances following a series of announcements in recent weeks.

I am encouraged that they invest where neededdeclared the leader of the official opposition. But without mechanisms [pour s’assurer de l’efficacité des investissements] it could end very badly.

In a statement Monday, the Greens called on the New Democratic Party Invest $1 billion in public transportation.

British Columbians living outside of Metro Vancouver are chronically underservedsaid Sonia Furstenau. This billion-euro investment is intended to fund regional transit in sectors such as the Corridor Sea To Sky and on Vancouver Island.

The high expectations of the observers

On the eve of the budget, various groups also expressed their expectations and priorities.

A disability rights group disability actiondemonstrated Monday before the Legislative Assembly to demand a $75 million-a-year allowance to boost disability rates.

The group generational pressure meanwhile asks David Ebi invest more in young people. Since 2017, the University of British Columbia lab has calculated that spending per capita over 65 has increased 80% more than spending for residents under 45, noting that younger generations will eventually end up with more debt than previous generations.