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GUEST COLUMN - LIBERALS
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BUILDING A BRIGHTER, GREENER FUTURE FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA |
By CAROLE TAYLOR, Minister of Finance
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British Columbia is booming. Since 2001, we have created over 370,000 new jobs and unemployment is at lows unseen in our province in the last thirty years. People are working and incomes are rising.
When British Columbians do well, the Province of British Columbia does well. Thanks in part to increased revenue from taxation, the Province's bottom line remains strong, and strong revenues create opportunities. We are able to spend an additional $691 million over the next three years building and improving hospitals in Surrey, Victoria and the Okanagan, and making investments in the schools that our children attend as well as building additional social housing. Thanks to a stronger-than-expected surplus, we can do this without additional increases in our debt.
Every year at this time, we start to think about the choices and tradeoffs that we must make to keep our economy strong and competitive, while spending on key areas that are important to British Columbians. For example, this year we've all heard a lot about the environment. What choices would you make for a greener future? What can we do, as government, or as individuals, to encourage environmentally responsible choices?
Some of the best ideas come from individual families around the province. That's why I hope you will get involved in this year's Budget Consultation process. You can make a presentation to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services as they tour the province, write to the Committee, or simply fill out the Budget 2008 Consultation mailer that will be arriving at every household in the coming weeks. More information is available at www.leg.bc.ca/budget consultations
We look forward to hearing from you as step by step, budget by budget, we build a brighter, greener future for British Columbia.
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