Budget doesn’t provide blueprint for change, just more of the Liberals’ failed legacy: NDP

Premier Christy Clark claims to represent change but her first budget shows almost no difference from previous Liberal budgets

and continues to hurt working families and the middle class. For New Democrats, real change would have included recognition that working families and the middle class are struggling in tough times and need relief and hope for the future.

For example, we were looking for investments in education and training, in our forest resource, in our justice system and in reversing the growing inequality that has been a hallmark of Liberal rule.

Sadly, we do not see any of these things in the budget delivered Tuesday.

The Liberal claim that they will deliver a balanced budget just in time for the election simply has no credibility. They have resorted to a fire sale of public assets to generate a tiny projected surplus in 2013, which offers no comfort the surplus is real or sustainable. Simply put, the Liberals have sold out our future for the sake of their present political needs. After a decade of deceit and mismanagement, the B. C. Liberals’ budgeting credibility is in tatters. Remember the 2009 pre- election budget that promised a deficit of $ 495 million “maximum”? A postelection update showed it was really six times that amount, nearly a $ 3- billion deficit. That same 2009 pre- election budget also said nothing about the HST. We all know too well that sad history of Liberal policy failure and concerted public opposition.

The Liberals simply cannot be trusted when it comes to the province’s finances. There is a litany of misplaced priorities in this budget. This budget offers a tax cut for major airlines, but is sticking B. C. families with yet another increase in MSP premiums, the fifth increase from this government totalling over 85 per cent or $ 732 per year for families with children.

Spending for the Premier’s Office is untouched, while universities and colleges are expected to make cuts and there is not a dime more to be found for student aid.

The budget also cuts funding for forest health by $ 20 million at a time when there is universal agreement our forests are in crisis. In addition, this budget completely ignores the financial impact associated with downloaded costs from the federal crime bill.

A New Democrat budget would have put a priority on education and skills training

The need has never been greater. We know that close to 80 per cent of jobs will require some post- secondary education.

NDP leader Adrian Dix has proposed reinstating needsbased grants for post- secondary students. The non- repayable grant program – eliminated by the Liberals in 2004- 05 — would be financed through reinstating a minimum tax on financial institutions. The Liberal government has offered nothing for students requiring financial assistance.

Contrary to the advice of the auditor- general, the Liberals permit BC Hydro to misleadingly post profits by deferring today’s debts at the government entity to future years. The government was warned that future ratepayers would have to pay for this current method of accounting, yet the Liberals have refused to listen. Now families are facing yet another rate hike for electricity in order to address BC Hydro’s colossal debt.

ICBC is imposing an 11.2- percent hike to basic coverage rates, and ferry fares have ballooned so much that ridership has plummeted.

While the average family in B. C. is nickel and dimed each year by the Liberals, the income gap has widened dramatically.

A BC Stats report released in January said according to the latest data available, “compared to other provinces, B. C. ranked dead last in 2009, with the largest gap between the top 20 per cent and the bottom 20 per cent of income earners.”

This constant battering of middle class family budgets and wages has left small businesses struggling to keep their doors open.

Premier Clark had a chance to show that, after months of postponing tough decisions, she was ready to begin governing, but this budget shows no signs she has any vision or agenda beyond clinging to power. After a decade of deceit and mismanagement, it seems British Columbians are expected to endure more of the same.

This was supposed to be a defining moment for Premier Clark and her government, but instead we are seeing a continuation of the Liberals’ failed legacy.