B.C.'s finance minister previews budget – signalling more spending and a bigger deficit

B.C. Finance Minister Katrine Conroy helped volunteers prepare bags of fresh produce for those in need Wednesday, the day before she tables a pre-election budget she pledges will help people across the province.

B.C. Finance Minister Katrine Conroy helped volunteers prepare bags of fresh produce for those in need at a community centre in Victoria’s Fernwood neighbourhood Wednesday – the day before she tables a pre-election budget she pledges will help people across the province.

“Our budget is targeted to middle class, average British Columbians that are struggling to make ends meet right now,” said Conroy to reporters in the traditional pre-budget news conference.

That NDP shift to a middle class focus has been a theme leading into the budget, out of Tuesday’s throne speech.

Conroy said on Wednesday the deficit for the upcoming budget will grow and signalled more spending on services is coming.

When she was asked about a much-rumoured BC Hydro rebate, that might catch the eye of voters, she stuck to her talking points.

“We will continue to support people in this province, we will continue to invest in people, we will not be making cuts to services,” she said.

As for taxes, she said “now is not the time” to raise them or introduce new ones. Although, when it comes to a tax on property flipping, she strongly hinted one is coming.