As Economy shows signs of Slowing, BC NDP to continue forward with spending plans

The Spring Session of the BC Legislature is officially underway, the MLA's back in the House, the Lieutenant Governor having charted the BC NDP government's path forward into 2023 with a Speech from the Throne on Monday Afternoon.

With the usual pomp and circumstance of such moments, Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin delivered what the government describes as a 'forward looking speech from the Throne' outlining a program that will continue to focus on some familiar themes while holding fast to a spending program buoyed by the government's surplus.

Towards that spending, the Government's talking points noted of a plan to carefully put last year’s significant surplus of near 6 billion dollars back to work for people and make investments that will pay off for generations to come. 

It also highlighted new laws that will be introduced to protect people who work hard and play by the rules: from speculators, organized crime and those who take advantage of the most vulnerable. 

Among some of the themes from the full text of the Speech were: Having the backs of British Columbians in uncertain times, Building a strong future, helping people with costs,  putting people who play by the rules first, support for strong and inclusive communities as well as an ongoing commitment towards reconciliation and partnership with Indigenous Peoples.

The Five key areas that the Government has focused on as part of their Legislature debut for 2023 included:

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It's the first Speech from the Throne for new Premier David Eby, the blueprint one which puts his stamp on the changeover from the John Horgan era, with Mr. Eby noting of the work of British Columbians during the period of COVID and other challenges of recent years in his comments towards his vision ahead.

“Despite everything we’ve gone through over the past few years, British Columbians remain relentlessly optimistic about their province – and with good reason. After all, it is the people of B.C. who got shots into arms, rebuilt highways after flooding, kept kids learning in schools and businesses thriving in difficult circumstances. Our government will build a stronger, more secure future with British Columbians, because there’s nothing we can’t accomplish or overcome when we work together.”

As for the economic signals of slowdown ahead, the Premier outlined how his government will work not to pass on the costs of those challenges to residents of the province.

“Some say we should respond to a downturn by pulling back, reducing services, or by making people pay out of pocket for private health care. But that would only make many of our most serious challenges worse and pass down costs at a time when people can least afford it. There’s too much at stake right now to pull the rug out from under British Columbians. We couldn’t afford short-term thinking before – and we certainly can’t afford it now.”

The full text of the Speech can be reviewed here.

The video of the Government's plans for the future can be viewed from the Government announced here.

We have collected some of the observations on the Monday speech from the province's journalists and broadcasters, you can review their impression of he plans ahead from our Victoria Viewpoints feature from our D'Arcy McGee blog.

More notes on the work of the Northwest MLA's at the Legislature can be reviewed here.