British Columbia: Business groups are applauding the B-C government’s small business relief measures in the newly tabled provincial budget, but are raising concerns about the rising deficit and debt.
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade president Bridgitte Anderson says raising the tax threshold on the province’s Employer Health Tax was welcome, but a deficit of almost 8-billion dollars is cause for concern about future sustainability.
The budget delivered Thursday by Finance Minister Katrine (ka-TREE’-na) Conroy forecasts slowing economic growth of 0.8 per cent this year, followed by growth of 2.3 per cent in 2025.
B-C’s debt is forecast to increase to 123-billion dollars this year, up from 103.7-billion.
The Canadian Press)