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Provincial Deficit 'Unsustainable' as Budget Comes Tuesday, B.C. Official Says
The B.C. government aims to reduce bureaucracy and public sector size while maintaining front-line services amid economic challenges and an $11.2 billion deficit, officials said.
- On Feb. 15, 2026, the British Columbia government signalled spending restraint as officials forecast a $6 billion deficit before the provincial budget due on Tuesday.
- Since 2022/23 provincial debt has climbed from $89.4 billion to a projected top of $155 billion this fiscal year, amid economic headwinds including a trade war and housing downturn.
- The Finance Ministry reported the provincial public service has shrunk by over 1,500 people since 2024 and a $4 billion contingency appears in the budget, with reporters on Thursday told to wait for specifics.
- Officials said they will reduce expenditures, stating `We have to reduce those expenditures, and we will do so in the budget`, while critics questioned past finances and cited an almost $6 billion surplus.
- Amid debate over austerity, Marc Lee, senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, said he hopes the budget avoids deep cuts, as the throne speech focused on community recovery after a mass shooting.
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How deep should spending cuts be in the upcoming B.C. budget to address the deficit?
The British Columbia government didn't have the opportunity to hint about what was coming in the provincial budget in its annual throne speech but both the premier and his finance minister have foreshadowed a cinching of government spending.
·Kelowna, Canada
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Provincial deficit 'unsustainable' as budget comes Tuesday, B.C. official says – Energeticcity.ca
VICTORIA — The British Columbia government didn’t have the opportunity to hint about what was coming in the provincial budget in its annual throne speech but both the premier and his finance minister have foreshadowed a cinching of government spending. The legislative session started just days after a mass shooting that left nine dead, including the killer. Six of the victims were under 13 years old, five of them died at the Tumbler Ridge Second…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources19
Leaning Left9Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution69% Left
Bias Distribution
- 69% of the sources lean Left
69% Left
L 69%
C 31%
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