Apr
6
MLA Report
By Carole James
On Tuesday, March 3, at the James Bay New Horizons, my neighbouring Victoria MLA Rob Fleming and I hosted a panel discussion on what the 2015 provincial budget means for you and your family. A packed house came out to listen to an expert panel and voice their thoughts on the future of our province. We heard that British Columbians need a break from tax hikes and the increasing cost of living. Our community wants to see smart economic policies, better social services and strong environmental protections, so we can maintain our standard of living for our communities and future generations.
Iglika Ivanova, Senior Economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, started off the panel by commenting that governments make many claims, but their budgets show their true intentions. And perhaps most telling was the Liberal government’s decision to award a $227 million tax break to the wealthiest British Columbians. While the top 2% are paying less, the budget has hardworking British Columbians paying more through fee hikes, including MSP Premiums, BC Hydro rates, and advanced education fees. Iglika demonstrated that fee hikes and tuition fees are the fastest growing sources of government revenue, while the natural resource operations revenues the government has been heralding have been failing for the past decade.
Next, Lisa Matthaus, Provincial Lead for Organizing for Change gave a brief analysis of the environmental priorities in the budget. She pointed to the government’s narrow focus on the economy, jobs and growth. While small steps are being taken to improve water protections and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, she argued that real leadership could be taken by growing green jobs and fostering clean energy projects across the province.
Lastly, Dr. Michael J. Prince from the University of Victoria gave a detailed analysis of social policy in the provincial budget. Dr. Prince showed how small amounts for social programs were trumpeted as grand achievements, while funding for health care, education and social supports failed to keep up with inflation and population growth. He highlighted how the Liberal government ended the callous child support clawback for single parent families on income assistance, yet let funding continue to stagnate for children living in poverty and people with disabilities. In addition, school districts have been told they will have to find another 54 million in savings, on top of the cuts they have already been subjected to throughout the last decade.
Community members who attended the panel were each asked what public policy issues needed urgent attention by government. Three-quarters of attendees said they were most concerned about public education, affordability and poverty; meanwhile, two-thirds said health care, the environment and climate action were their top concerns. When asked what should be in the 2016 budget, community members called for investment in education, health care, poverty reduction and climate action. They also called for fair progressive tax schemes and an end to unfair MSP Premiums and fee hikes.
This valuable discussion highlighted the concerns of our community when a government narrowly focuses on natural resource development, while continuing to neglect investing in our green economy. We could see that individuals and families in our communities are paying more and getting less.
The message we heard was clear – make living more affordable for individuals and families, strengthen social services, and build a green economy. We are committed to bringing these suggestions forward in the media and in the legislature. If you have additional feedback and thoughts on the future of our communities and our province, I always appreciate hearing from you. Please contact me at:
Carole James, MLA
Victoria-Beacon Hill
1084 Fort Street
250-952-4211
carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca