Mixed Reaction to Budget
Prince George, B.C. – The BC Teachers Federation is applauding the NDP budget update, but the Canadian Taxpayers Federation has a different view.
“With hundreds of millions of dollars in new funding for public education, children in care, and mental health, the government has moved quickly to make good on their promises to BC students, parents, and teachers” says BCTF First Vice President Teri Mooring. Mooring also says the increased tax rate for large corporations and those making more than $150 thousand a year brings a fairness to the tax system.
The Canadian Taxpayers Association doesn’t agree with everything in the spending plan announced by Finance Minister Carole James. “BC taxpayers will pay more for heating their homes, driving their cars and running their businesses in the wake if this budget, because the carbon tax is going up and it isn’t even going to be revenue neutral anymore”, said Kris Sims, BC Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. The CTF also expresses concerns over the increase in the Provincial debt , saying the spending plan will increase the Provincial debt by $6.9 billion dollars by the 2019-2020 fiscal year. It is also not too happy with the increased tax rate for high income earners and corporations. .
But the CTF also gives thumbs up to a couple of other initiatives such as the 50% reduction in MSP premiums as the first step to eliminating the premium, and supports the reduction in the small business income tax rate.
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives calls the budget “a strong start in addressing crucial issues for British Columbians.” CCPA Senior Economist Iglika Ivanova says investments in affordable housing, including 2,000 units for the homeless “is very good news.”
Comments
Those that get are happy!
Those that pay, not so happy!
Seems like those that get, always want to get more, while those that pay would like some of those that get, to get off of their butt and become some of those that pay!
Guess I am in the not so happy…
Those that get are the rich and those that pay are the middle class.
Here comes the brain drain… There is now level less incentive for top doctors, savvy and skilled engineers, innovative tech professionals, experienced commercial pilots, thorough financiers, etc etc etc (many professions exceed the 150000 threshold by a long shot) to call BC home. We need those people to keep our province safe, clean, and desirable… why make it less attractive to be a professional here? When you are sought after, you have a choice.
I don’t understand how increasing taxes for high income earners establishes “fairness”. If you spend countless hours achieving applicable education and skills, make many sacrifices to master your trade, or work away from your family to earn more than 150000/yr…only to fund services that provide assistance to individuals that generally do not put in the effort to accomplish any of the said examples. Isn’t that unfair? It’s like giving participation medals to kids that don’t finish at the top, it devalues effort and aptitude.
How can a public figure (BCTF VP) get away with calling the budget fair? That’s rediculous.
Should not be crying if making 150,000. I suppose you think you should be paying the same MSP as a person making 30,000.
here’s your participation medal…
()
O
If the person making $30,000 a year uses the Health Care system more then the person making $150,000 who should pay more?
oldman1, I am of the opinion that MSP should be eliminated and instead general taxes should increase very slightly to compensate for the loss of the MSP revenue! On that we likely agree!
Where we disagree is on whether a person making $150,000 should or should not be crying! I would suggest to you that one person making $150,000 a year likely pays more in taxes that the combined tax bill for 5 people making $30,000.00 per year!
The person making $150,000 per year also quite likely uses on average far less of our public services and healthcare!
So, the person making $150,000 might look at what they pay in taxes and what they use in services, and the disconnect between the two might be reason enough to shed a tear or two!
Do you really think most making over $150,000 pay MSP…lol. the employers cover it.
P Val, most of the people that I know making over $150,000.00 are not the employee, they ARE in fact the employer or the self-employed, both of whom cover the MSP payment! Business owner, employer, self-employed, all usually one and the same!
“P Val, most of the people that I know making over $150,000.00 are not the employee, they ARE in fact the employer or the self-employed, both of whom cover the MSP payment! Business owner, employer, self-employed, all usually one and the same!”
You see what paying your employees poverty level minimum wage rates gets you? The ability to pay your own MSP premiums. 👍
Amazon is looking for another North American headquarter. Toronto, some others and Vancouver have said they are in the running for the new several billion dollar (50,000 new employees) private enterprise if Vancouver can make itself attractive enough with offers of land, infrastructure and tax relief. It may as well throw in the towel now.
This was not a full budget but an update for the last 6 months of the fiscal year. Not in this mini budget but said to be addressed next time are some of the big ticket promises made like $1.5 billion for child care, $200 million for rental grants, zero interest student loans and on and on.
Handed a $3 billion surplus—down to $500 million with mini budget–$2 billion deficit in their first year. Nice!
Not sure how true the surplus numbers are.. but we aren’t paying nothing off and spending tons
The 2.74 billion dollar surplus is from last year and it will go towards the provincial debt – ie. they can’t just spend it
This years surplus is gone now, with the bridges tacked on it will be hefty – as they say 6-7 billion deficit
Clarify – give or take 500 surplus to 500 deficit this budget update, 6-7 billion added to provincial debt
The liberal surplus was a plan for the coming year and as they are no longer in power is no longer valid. Still a $5 billion swing in a single year if the ndp follow through with all the big money promises.
James said the ndp will go ahead on these items but in the same breath hedging as she said the plans going forward depend on the greens.
False, the Liberals came in with a 2.74 billion dollar surplus for last year, this years surplus is now to the dogs
That is why during the election they said the surplus was around 1.5 billion but before the confidence vote the number was corrected to over 2 billion which of course the NDP called bogus but the audited number came out to 2.74 billion surplus for 2016 and they had to eat crow. The surplus goes towards the provincial debt and the NDp can’t just go on a spending spree as they can with this years surplus (2017) turning it into almost a deficit, well not almost but more than likely a deficit come next August when the audit is finished.
Slinky:”The 2.74 billion dollar surplus is from last year and it will go towards the provincial debt – ie. they can’t just spend it”
I don’t think they are going to use the budget surplus to reduce the provincial debt! They usually just pay the annual interest and the leftover – if there is any – is swiftly incorporated as a welcome bonus into new spending.
I don’t understand how increasing taxes for high income earners establishes “fairness”. If you spend countless hours achieving applicable education and skills,
========================================
They should be pleased that they have educational skills. And the Doctors should go. they are just milking the system. You have some good doctors in PG and I’m sure that they will not leave but you should see what we have here in Abbotsford. Some can not speak the English language.
My wife made an appointment with her doctor. She had a medical problem and wanted a prescription renewal. He said to her which is it that you want. End of conversation.
I don’t think its the professionals are targeted for more tax dollars. Its the Corporations that are targeted. Look at our friend Jimmy Patterson he is bleeding us dry with his grocery chains . Each time we buy groceries the prices are up or the quantities get smaller.
Cheers
Kimmy
Not long ago you were defending the ndp jacking up insurance rates as a part of an increased cost of living. Does that not also include things like groceries?
=======================================================
by Retired 02 with a score of 0
Do you need a wake up call. You don’t seem to realize that the cost of living has gone up and that includes insurance. Just go and rant to mister Weston and see if the grocery prices can be reduced to your liking
Cheers
R02:” And the Doctors should go. they are just milking the system.”
I would prefer if they would reduce the number of politicians and trimmed bloated government to an affordable level! Oh, keep the doctors, we need them! In fact we need more!
Children, children . And arm chair know it alls. It doesn’t matter what happened in the budget update today because you will still have a warm home tomorrow. Quit your rants and negativity…..you have it good and will for a long time. Don’t like it here ? And have all the answers…move to Africa and get a real lesson in life.
Best comment in a long time. Love it Quesnel.
Your homes are warm because of many professionals that work in energy industries, many of whom now submitting over half of their gross earnings to the fedlibs/ndpprovs. Over Half! It doesn’t matter what your T4 says that is a hard tax ratio to absorb when it’s so poorly mismanaged.
The Africa comparison is nonsensical, they do not have the opportunities, regardless of effor
The silence with Campbell and Christy gone is so refreshing. Now if Coleman and DeJong would take their pensions that would be a good start to rebuilding a centre right party in BC.
If the Liberals try to recycle all their old dogs, they will be out of Government for some time to come.
Yea and the likes of Carol James and Adrian Dix are fresh new faces. Or are they tired old retreads who were soundly defeated when leading their party?
Palopu…can you go 2 days without making a comment on here as an armchair ‘know-it-all?” Bet you can’t.
..and slinky and hart guy and sparrow and Prince George. Just see if any of you can quit talking for 2 days.
..and unless someone is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to open this site if you stayed away for a couple of days it would accomplish the same thing.
You are up.
Elaine. Why do you promote bully behaviour on your site?
Bloody whiner…..
Oh look, someone is triggered! How do you cope offline when people disagree with you? Call the police? Priceless.
The NDP have announced in this budget that they are going to hire 3,500 teachers.
Haven’t we just hired a whole pile of new teachers to comply with the Supreme Court ruling? Didn’t we do this so that we will be in compliance with the class size ruling?
So, why do we now need to hire 3,500 more teachers. Where will they teach? Who will they teach? Exactly how small will class sizes now have to be in order to accommodate 3,500 MORE teachers, over and above the thousands that were just hired!
Recently, I believe that it was the Vice President of the BCTF who said that they will now fight to ensure that class sizes were kept below the mandated maximum class size. If the teachers won on the issue of maximum class size limits, why do we need 3,500 MORE teachers and why aren’t the maximum class size limits that the teachers fought to restore good enough for the BCTF?
Like I said when this Vice President commented, it would appear that the BCTF is never satisfied and it would appear that the NDP is more than willing to give, give, give till it hurts!
Hang on to your wallets folks, you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet!
Posted on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 @ 12:02 AM by Hart Guy with a score of 0
P Val, most of the people that I know making over $150,000.00 are not the employee, they ARE in fact the employer or the self-employed, both of whom cover the MSP payment! Business owner, employer, self-employed, all usually one and the same!
Bang on Hart Guy. While I’m not quite up into that $150K mentioned I’m still in that employment type you detailed. I’m self-employed in 6 digit income territory. MSP fees comes out of my own pocket as do prescription costs and dental services.
Yes bang on Hart Guy. Jimmy Paterson, the oil giants, Weston try to insure that they get their share of my income.They should be taxed like the rest of us. I know Hart guy you are already think of where my pension income is coming from and how the investment in big corporations are providing for me.
Well that’s a pipe dream the biggest part of my income comes from veteran’s affairs as I served in our armed forces.So what did you ever that enchants the live of millions .
Cheers
Comments for this article are closed.