The B.C. NDP government鈥檚 first budget will include 鈥渢he largest investments in housing and child care in B.C.鈥檚 history,鈥� Premier John Horgan says.
Finance Minister Carole James visited a Victoria daycare centre Monday, but didn鈥檛 add much detail to Horgan鈥檚 forecast. James said the budget she will unveil Tuesday contains the first steps in a 10-year plan to develop universal child care across the province.
James declined to comment on the NDP鈥檚 campaign commitment last year to deliver a $10-a-day child care system, which both she and Horgan have downplayed since forming a minority government supported by three B.C. Green MLAs last summer.
RELATED: Child care advocates question NDP's commitment
James said she dispensed with the traditional finance minister鈥檚 ritual of buying a new pair of budget shoes, and will wear old shoes shined by her husband. She read a story at the daycare about a cat that keeps walking after getting its white shoes stained with different colours.
鈥淚 wanted to make sure I did something that reminded us what the budget is really about,鈥� she said.
In a pre-budget video posted on the weekend, Horgan also promised the budget will contain additional measures to deal with housing prices. In last week鈥檚 throne speech, the government committed to deal with speculation in the housing market, empty homes and the shortage of rental housing.
鈥淏usinesses cannot grow when the skilled workers they need are shut out by the high cost of housing,鈥� the throne speech noted. 鈥淩enters are afraid of eviction or unexpected rent increases that will force them to relocate when prices are sky high and vacancies hover at record lows.鈥�
Horgan also referred to the ongoing dispute with Alberta Premier Rachel Notley over his opposition to the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion. He promised to 鈥減rotect our wine industry from unfair trade practices being brought on us by the government of Alberta,鈥� and continue trying to prevent the project from moving ahead despite federal and provincial approvals.
