Panel data provided by Madison's Canadian Lumber Reporter.

Bell's Budget Breakfast

By 250 News

Pat Bell, MLA for Prince George North and Minister of Agriculture and Lands gave a  budget review and overview to a local gathering.

He pointed out the tax cuts in this budget amount to $733 million dollars whether that be through increased home owner grants, slashed pst on software, increased threshold for luxury tax on vehicles, or tax credits to companies who hire apprentices.

Highlights for the north include $113 millon over three years for the pine beetle efforts,  and the $90 million dollars in tax credits for companies hiring apprentices.  The government has not  yet  planned on how those tax credits will be applied and will meet with business  and industry to see how the dollars can best be put to programs.  

Bell says the  government recognizes the  single biggest challenge to industry  in B.C. is finding qualified employees, and he praised  folks like Rosalind Thorn of the PGConstruction Association who worked hard to ensure apprenticehsips were addressed.

It is a prudent budget Bell explained, which  realizes there are some  factors  which are beyond our control namely the weakening of the US economy,  strengthening of the canadian dollar and input from federal transfer payments.

When it comes to total debt, he says the LIberals have managed to reduce the amount by $100 milion dollars.

Bell says another point which may have been missed is the committment  of $6 million to the environmental Assessment office.  That should help speed up assessments for mining applications.  
He says there are 9 such  projects waiting for  approvals and a short window (6 months a year) in which to do those assessments.


Minister Bell had some company as Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon also attended the session. 
( shown here visiting with City Councillor Don Zurowski)  Falcon will be making a special transportation announcement later today in Prince George.





Previous Story - Next Story



Return to Home