 Good afternoon, everyone. I would like to begin our proceedings today by acknowledging that we are privileged to gather on the traditional territories of Lekwungen speaking people, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nation. We honor and respect their enduring stewardship of these lands and the wisdom, culture and traditions which are so generously shared with our community and with our province. Aishka, Siem. On behalf of all members, I would also like to welcome all our guests, many of them who are here today, friends and family joining us in the chamber. Thank you for being us this afternoon. Madam Clerk. Orders of the day. Minister of Finance. Honorable Speaker, I move that this House at its next sitting resolve excel for this session into a committee to consider this supply to be granted to His Majesty. You have heard the question. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Oppose, motion carried. Mr. Afinas. Honorable Speaker, I have the honor to present a message from her honor, the Lieutenant Governor. Our honor, the Lieutenant Governor transmits here with a bill and teacher estimates fiscal year ending March 31st, 2025. And supplement to the estimates fiscal year ending March 31st, 2025. I recommend the same to the legislative assembly. Minister. Honorable Speaker, I move that the said message and the estimates accompanying the same to be referred to the Committee of Supply. You heard the question. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, motion carried. Minister. Honorable Speaker, I move seconded by the Honorable Premier of British Columbia that the Speaker do now leave the chair for the House to go into Committee of Supply. Continue. I would like to begin by acknowledging the Lekwangan peoples, the Sonhees and Esquivalent Nations upon whose territories we are gathered today. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to present Budget 2024, a budget that delivers solutions to meet today's challenges, that builds on a strong foundation to address the pressure people feel today. And it's a budget that brings more opportunities within reach for hardworking people. Because whether you live in a city, a town, a rural or First Nations community, many of us share a common hope for our future and that of our children and grandchildren. We all want to work hard and get ahead. Everyone wants a decent home in the community they love and we all need access to quality health care, including a family doctor. Budget 2024 delivers on these priorities while continuing to build an economy that works better for everyone. There's a lot of work ahead of us, but we are starting from a place of strength. BC is a great place to live, where people can put down roots and raise a family. We've got good opportunities today and the resources we need to succeed in the future. And wherever you call home, there is incredible natural beauty at our doorstep. For me, the Kootenays are home. It's where I've worked. As the first woman at the local pulp mill, as an instructor for early childhood education at Selker College, as an executive director of a nonprofit, and as where I breed cattle on my farm. The Kootenays are where we chose to raise our family and it's a place where I proudly live today as a minister of finance. And while I can't say I'm the very first finance minister for Murrow BC, I can say it's been a while. Our government has shown that we can put people first and build a strong economy. Some said this wasn't possible. They argued that increasing the minimum wage would hurt job numbers. BC now has the highest minimum wage of any province and some of the strongest self-employment growth in Canada. They said we couldn't afford to build a universal childcare system from the ground up. In fact, affordable and accessible childcare has contributed to more than 100,000 women joining the workforce since 2017. They said we couldn't fight climate change while growing BC's natural resource sector. And yet, emissions are down and projects like the Cedar LNG facility are moving forward. It's going to be the largest first nations majority owned energy project in the country and one of the cleanest liquefied natural gas facilities in the world. These are just a few examples, Mr. Speaker. Of the action our government is taking to make life better for people right around the province. Now I do want to recognize the times we find ourselves in. BC is an economic leader in Canada but too many people are still struggling to get ahead. Global inflation and high interest rates have made everything from housing to groceries more costly. And with a slower global economy we are feeling the effects here in British Columbia. At the end of the day, people have a lot on their minds right now and they're feeling stretched. My family is no exception. We often get together for small family dinners and by small I mean about 35 of us. And as a granny to nine grandchildren and many more grand nieces and nephews I hear from their parents how access to affordable childcare was life changing. From my own experiences and that of other relatives I see how important it is to have access to a family doctor and healthcare close to home. And while housing has been out of reach for so long for many people I'm starting to hear stories that give me hope. This one chokes me out. With more homes being built and short term rentals coming up for sale in her Kelowna neighborhood my granddaughter sees a future where she could own her own first home. It won't be tomorrow and it'll take a lot of hard work but she said to me, I think it's possible granny. These are the conversations so many families are having at kitchen tables right across the province. And as finance minister I want you to know that when times are tough our government works for you. We have your back and we will continue taking action for you. So more people feel hopeful about their future here. Some look at the challenges ahead and say government should respond with deep cuts leaving people to fend for themselves. This would only weaken the services we all rely on and drive up costs with added fees and fares. It would leave people at risk to those who take unfair advantage by putting profits ahead of people. We see this in the current housing crisis. After decades where the housing market served the interest of investors and speculators even those who earn a decent income are finding it hard to afford a home and that doesn't silt well with our government. To further crack down on speculators budget 2024 will bring in the new BC home flipping tax. To those who just want to make a quick buck by flipping homes things are about to get more difficult. If a home is sold within two years of purchase the profit will be taxed. And the revenue will go right back into building middle-class homes for people. We all understand that life can change quickly so there will be exceptions but our government will always go after bad actors whether they're dealing in real estate, money laundering, organized crime and more. And we'll continue to stand with working people through higher wages, better protections on the job and by ending MSP premiums to deliver the largest middle-class tax cut in a generation. Budget 2024 continues to put people first and keeps building on a strong foundation. We are taking action to fix today's big challenges and secure a brighter future for everyone. We'll do this by helping people with everyday costs delivering more homes around BC, strengthening healthcare and the services people rely on with steady investments and by building a stronger, cleaner economy that works better for people. Whether I'm at home in Pass Creek or at work in Victoria I hear from those who are worried about everyday costs going up. While inflation has made things worse people have been feeling stretched for a while. That's why our government has been helping with costs for years. We took tolls off bridges, made transit free for children under 12 and ICBC car insurance rates have been frozen or been cut on average by $500 a year for drivers. We became the first province in Canada to make prescription contraception free, saving a person up to $300 a year on birth control pills or up to $10,000 over a lifetime. We cut child fees by up to an average of $900 per month. And Mr. Speaker, we made a historic investment in school meal programs and contributed $60 million to the Student and Family Affordability Fund. This helped school districts cover extra costs like school supplies, field trips or band instruments and school sports. I recently visited a school in Surrey and heard from a principal what a difference this has made for her students. Not just at home, but at home as well. As a principal, she said she hopes students and families can continue to count on this support. And today I'm happy to say, yes they can. We will be replenishing the Student and Family Affordability Fund with more details to come soon. Our government has long been focused on reducing costs for education so people can get the training they need to land a better paying job. I think of Tara who completed a bachelor's degree with plans for a master's program. As a former youth in care, she was able to do this for free in British Columbia. Tara will be the first in her family to graduate from university. And as she describes it, the one to break a generational cycle. A little extra money can make life easier and it can bring your dreams a little closer. We know there's more to do. In an expensive world, Budget 2024 takes targeted action to keep more money in your pocket. A new BC Electricity Affordability Credit will save seniors, families and individuals an average of $100 on their household bills over the next year. And the average small businesses will save around $400 over the year. The credits will appear on bills from April to next March. Mr. Speaker, many families will already be familiar with the BC family benefit. And now, starting in July, more parents will receive more money as we launch bonus payments for one year. The BC family benefit bonus will add 25% to the benefit and go to about 340,000 pounds. With the year long bonus, a family of four will receive as much as $3,563 and a single parent with one child will receive up to $2,688. This works out to an average of $445 extra per year. Parents can use the money to help with anything from groceries to registering their kids for the sports teams that they've always wanted to go to. With these targeted measures, Budget 2024 will help keep your bills down and more money in your pocket at the end of each month. Mr. Speaker, for so many of us, housing costs are the greatest expense we face, whether it's rent or mortgage payments. The housing crisis is complex. It's been made worse by decades of inaction where governments of all levels left it to the private market to deliver homes. Prices went up as governments stepped back and speculators moved in. That's why we're bringing in the home flipping tax as our latest measure to crack down on bad actors. The problems facing our housing market have deep roots. Our government is responding with big solutions that'll deliver more homes for people. We're starting to see progress. Nearly 78,000 homes are complete or underway. There's been a 30% increase in new rental homes registered, a leading indicator of housing activity. And we're turning short-term rentals into long-term homes, changing outdated zoning and building housing near transit so people save money and enjoy more time with their families. This is all promising, but our team is nowhere near satisfied. Budget 2024 will build more housing and help first-time homebuyers break into the market. Because even with a good job and steady saving, it's tough to put together a down payment these days. As a result, there's more pressure on the housing market with people renting for longer. But as most people will tell you, every little bit helps. The first-time homebuyer program was designed to provide that financial boost. But the program no longer reflects the realities of today's housing market. That changes with Budget 2024. First-time homebuyers will save up to $8,000 thanks to a reduced bill for property transfer tax. We expect up to 14,500 people, twice as many as before, will now be eligible for support to buy their first home. Additionally, people will pay a reduced amount of property transfer tax when they buy a newly-built home. There's more to do, but these targeted, practical changes will help more middle-income people move up the home ownership ladder. Mr. Speaker, just over a week ago, our government launched BC Builds. BC Builds will leverage government-owned, public and underused land, and low-cost financing to bring down construction costs and deliver more middle-class housing. Think of homes built on top of community hubs like recreation centres and libraries. Think about transforming an empty parking lot into homes for middle-class families. BC Builds will turn these ideas into action. One of the best features is that these homes will be income-tested when a person moves in. Most residents will be spending no more than 30% of their income on rent. This will be a welcome relief for many, but I know there are renters who need support today. Our government has capped rent increases below the rate of inflation and boosted the BC Rent Bank. This is also the first year that people can receive up to $400 through a renter's tax credit. Budget 2024 will also introduce a property transfer tax exemption for new purpose-built rental buildings. This is a temporary measure that will help get more rental homes built in communities across BC. Strong public services, including healthcare, have always been foundational to our province. And today, Mr. Speaker, people are coming to BC in record numbers. They bring their skills as doctors, nurses, teachers, and as people working to build homes, hospitals, and schools. In return, we need to make sure everyone has access to the services that we all count on. For many people, quality healthcare is top of mind and with good reason. There are new pressures on our healthcare system, including a worldwide labor shortage, a retiring health workforce, and a growing population. We're taking steps to confront these challenges and strengthen healthcare in BC. By adding 700 family doctors and over 6,000 nurses will allowing pharmacists to prescribe for minor illnesses. By making international credential recognition faster. And by developing a new medical school at SFU, the first to be built in Western Canada in more than 50 years. To build on this foundation, Budget 2024 will provide an additional $6 billion over the fiscal plan to strengthen healthcare. We are expanding home and community care services for more seniors so they can live healthy, independent lives in their homes. New or upgraded long-term care homes are on the way for communities around BC, including Abbotsford, Nanaimo, Cranbrook, and Prince George. We're also continuing to build a better, more connected system of mental health and addictions care where people get the right support at the right time, whether it's with the newly dedicated team at St. Paul's Hospital or at the Redfish Healing Center. These are the kind of supports that made all the difference for Tyson, now a peer educator at the New Roads Recovery Community in Victoria. In just six months, he has gone from being in jail to getting care and becoming an advocate for people with mental health and addictions. Now Tyson is helping others on their journey. Cancer has touched the lives of everyone in this province, whether it's your own fight or that of a friend or family member. Delivering better cancer care is a key focus of this year's budget. Work continues on BC's Cancer Action Plan with more cancer care teams, support for research, and help for patients who need to travel from rural communities. We're also making advances on screening with Canada's first province-wide lung screening program and at-home HPV test. These measures are already saving lives as Christina from Port Albany knows firsthand. She found pre-cancerous cells through an at-home HPV test. After treatment, she's living cancer-free. Budget 2024 will commit an additional 270 million over three years through the fight against cancer. This will help strengthen prevention and screening services like the tests Christina did and deliver treatment to people. Cancer care centers are also on the way for Surrey, Burnaby, Nanaimo, and Kamloops. All of those will provide better care closer to home. We will continue working to fix the gaps in services and infrastructure left behind by previous governments. Because as BC's population grows and ages, we can't afford not to make those investments. Mr. Speaker, I think about the big family dinners at my house and the joy bringing a grandparent brings me. Everyone, everyone who wants to have a child, during menopause, sorry. Okay, everyone who wants to have a child should have the opportunity to do so. However, infertility and other barriers can pose challenges. In vitro fertilization or IVF is one option, but it can be expensive. People who want to start a family should be able to, regardless of the relationship status, who they love, or how much money they make. Starting on April 1st of next year, one cycle of IVF will be free in British Columbia. Budget 2024 commits 68 million over the fiscal plan to implement the program. I know this will be welcome news for many, whether it's a person looking to have a child on their own, people who are experiencing infertility, or a same-sex couple who has tried other methods. This will help more people on the path to parenthood. This year's budget also includes significant support for education and services for young people. K-12 education is one of our government's top priorities, and that's reflected in this year's budget. We're responding to growing student enrollment with 968 million for more teachers and support staff in classrooms. We're also committing a historic 4.2 billion over the next three years to build, renovate, and seismically upgrade schools and playgrounds right across the province. That's more than double than what was committed in 2017. To make sure children with learning needs have support to thrive at home and in the classroom, we are helping more families access services for individualized autism support. And to help children with learning differences, like dyslexia, this year's budget commits $30 million over the next three years. New and expanded school outreach teams will help screen more than 150,000 students from kindergarten to grade three. Once the program is fully rolled out, we expect about 9,000 students per year will benefit from new literacy supports. Mr. Speaker, as a former early childhood educator, I understand how important reading skills are for a child's confidence and their success in life. With this year's budget, we are also improving frontline support for children in youth and care. This includes doubling the number of roots workers to help indigenous children in care and out-of-care homes remain connected to their culture and community. Mr. Speaker, the world is moving into a clean energy future. With BC's strong economy, abundant natural resources and skilled workforce, we have what it takes to succeed. And no matter where you call home, you should feel BC's economy working for you. With jobs and opportunities for you and your family to build a good life. Budget 2024 commits more than $1.3 billion over four years to fight climate change and keep building a cleaner economy in partnership with First Nations, communities and businesses. Here in British Columbia, small business is big business. Small businesses create first jobs that turn into careers. They sponsor local sports teams and they employ more than a million people in this province. However, it's been a tough couple of years. Our government provided grants, not loans, to get them through the pandemic. But now small businesses are being squeezed by inflation and high interest rates. That's why our government is taking another step to help small and growing businesses with costs. Mr. Speaker, we are doubling the exemption threshold for the employer's health tax from $500,000 to a million dollars. Effective immediately, about 90% of businesses will be exempt from the tax. We've been hearing from business leaders that these savings will help to recruit and retain talent. To support these plans, Budget 2024 continues to invest $228 million over three years in the future-ready action plan. It's our government's plan to close the skills gap employers are facing and help people get the training they need to land a well-paying job. For example, we are creating 3,000 new tech seats at Post-Secondary Institute in areas like data science, life science and agotech. In our province, we have a talented and growing workforce along with an abundance of resources. There are natural strengths and they are creating good jobs and opportunities around BC. In Maple Ridge, hundreds of people will be working at the new E1 Mali Battery Facility. A capital investment of 36 billion in BC's electrical grid will generate work for over 10,000 people a year in the next decade. And a new mass timber facility in Williams Lake is just one of many new manufacturing projects that will offer good, secure jobs. Mining is another area of strength. We are a world-leading mining jurisdiction with the critical minerals to power a clean economy, from electric cars to wind turbines and solar panels. And we're ready to deliver with lower carbon emissions, good wages and working conditions and in partnership with indigenous peoples. Work is underway on a made in BC critical mineral strategy. Today, we are committing 24 million to support further action on mine permitting in collaboration with First Nations, industry and communities. Mr. Speaker, people understand that a growing clean economy is good for people and it's good for business. That's why Budget 2024 continues to support Clean BC, our continent-leading climate action plan with 318 million over the next three years. We're making the cleaner choice the more affordable choice. This year's budget will expand heat pumper baits for low and middle income households. New funding will grow the public EV charging network and help communities build more active transportation options like walking and biking paths. Additionally, we are continuing to fight climate change by putting a price on pollution. And when the price increases, every dollar of that increase will go back to the people through the climate action tax credit. Individuals will receive as much as $504 and a family of four up to over $1,000 through the tax credit. This will provide a meaningful boost for individuals, families and seniors. Mr. Speaker, there are some who say the cost of action on climate change is too great. I'd say look at the record wildfires, floods and droughts we've experienced in the past few years. Think back to that night in November of 2021 when the Sumas River breached its banks. A local man named Chris and three of his friends grabbed their gear and got to work reinforcing the Barotown Pump Station. They were soon joined by neighbors from Chilliwack and Agassi. When asked about that night, Chris said, I'm proud to say my neighbors, they fight. And there's no doubt the fight against climate change will take all of us working together. This year's budget delivers 405 million over four years to better protect our communities from climate emergencies. We're upgrading key infrastructure like the Barotown Pump Station and the Cowichan Lake Weir. Built in the 1950s, the Weir controls water flow into the Cowichan River. This has impacts on the local supply of drinking water and fish habitat, especially during drought. The regional district and Cowichan tribes have been calling for a rebuild and we're proud to support this important project and partnership. We were also committed more funding to the agricultural water infrastructure program. This will help farmers and communities better manage, collect and store water over the long term and during times of drought. There are many lessons to be learned from last year's devastating wildfire season. A key one being that emergency response is year round work. When we're not fighting fires, we need to clear our forests of fuel. A total of $60 million in new funding for the Forest Enhancement Society of BC will help with that and more. Additionally, we are providing more year round wildfire response resources including more fire crew leaders and frontline staff. More than a thousand people have applied to the BC Wildfire Service as part of the latest recruitment. To those who are gearing up for the next wildfire season, perhaps for the first time, thank you. And thank you to the First Nations, local governments and community leaders for your partnership. Mr. Speaker, our promise is stronger when there are good jobs, services and opportunities to be found in rural British Columbia. This is reflected in our government's rural strategy with measures to deliver on the real ground results. We are building homes and hospitals all around BC. We are helping with costs when people need travel for cancer care. We are supporting made in BC manufacturing to get more local jobs from every tree harvested. And we are connecting all residents to high speed internet by 2027. The impact is big for people, businesses and communities. A study by BC stats predicts a $432 million boost to GDP over 20 years because of our government's work to connect rural communities along the coast alone. Mr. Speaker, this year's budget will help keep people and goods moving through rural parts of our province. New funding will improve access to First Nations communities via forest and service roads, maintenance of critical roads and bridges and support for inland ferry service. Passengers on BC transit will notice more zero emission buses and benefit from 358,000 hours of expanded transit service in the coming years. We want rural communities to be places where people can live, work and put down routes. Where the prosperity generated by local people and resources is reflected in the community with the schools, hospitals and housing that all towns need to survive. That is why Budget 2024 will commit $250 million over five years to support the Northwest Resource Benefit Alliance. Meanwhile, work is underway on projects funded through the billion dollar growing community funds. Grants went to all 188 municipalities and regional districts to help respond to local needs, like building a new fire hall in Crofton, a new transit exchange to keep people moving in the Fraser Valley and building more housing in the Bulkley-Nichaco region. We'll keep working with the Union of BC municipalities and community leaders on infrastructure to support healthy villages, towns and cities. Additionally, progress continues with the federal government on a national Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program. We are establishing new provincial tools, including provincial equity loan guarantees to support this ongoing work. If First Nations need to borrow funds to purchase an equity interest in a project, our government will provide guarantees to the lenders on those loans. We want to see this program grow over time to support the unique priorities of First Nations communities, from major electrification projects to community greenhouses. Ultimately, this is one more way that our government is building a better, more equitable future. One, where First Nations share the benefits of major projects that serve their communities in their territories and on their terms. Mr. Speaker, when faced with global challenges, there is a choice to be made. Some would choose to cut services and raise fees, but our government won't leave people behind to fend for themselves. We have your back. We have a $43 billion capital plan to build a stronger British Columbia over the next three years, when you can spend less time commuting and more time with your family, whether it's through the Fraser River Tunnel or the Patello Bridge, or along Highway 1 in the Fraser Valley or from Kamloops to the Alberta border, or as a passenger on the Broadway subway and Surrey Langley Sky Train, the first major transit expansion south of the Fraser River in over 30 years. We're building a stronger BC, where you can get the healthcare you need close to home. New or upgraded hospitals are on the way for Surrey, Burnaby, the Cowishin Valley, Dawson Creek, Williams Lake, and more. I'm pleased to say that a brand new Mills Memorial Hospital and Terrace will be open to patients later this year. And we're building a stronger BC, where you can get the skills to succeed in today's economy, whether it's studying skilled trades at BCIT's Future Trades and Technology Campus or Early Childhood Education at North Island College's new center opening next year. Together, we can get through today's challenges and build a brighter future, where you can afford a decent home and still get ahead, where your family can count on good schools and healthcare, where opportunities you only dreamed of are within reach for your children and grandchildren. These are the hopes that my family and I share around the dinner table, and Budget 24 will help to bring this future in reach for everyone who calls BC home. For Kamalus North Thompson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's my honor to rise on behalf of the official opposition in response to what is likely the NDP's last provincial budget in this chamber. In fact, Mr. Speaker, it's maybe mislabeled as BC Budget 2024. It probably should have been Budget Budget 2.0 as you dig through this document, and I'll explain why in my opening comments, and certainly I'll be reserving my time part way in and finish off when we come back on Monday, because there's some fundamental underlying issues with this budget that the minister seemed to not want to actually acknowledge your address. I didn't hear the applause from the other side when this government was talking about a record $8 billion deficit. Not once did the finance minister actually mention the fact that there's a record deficit. And it's important that we note that, because last year when there was what was going to be a record deficit, at least the contingencies in the budget actually were more than what that projected deficit was. Not this year, Mr. Speaker. In fact, there is no forecast allowance in this year's budget. And the contingencies are less than half of what the overall deficit is projected to be, which means there's only one way for this budget to go over the next several months, and that's down. Now why I reference the budget budget is because history is an important thing in this place, and for the residents of British Columbia. And the creation of the Economic Forecast Council, the economists from around Canada that help advise the finance minister on where they see the provincial economy going relative to the rest of the country, was created as a result of the budget budget to try to bring some accountability back into the budgeting process that was completely manipulated by the end of the government at the time. So year over year over year since then, Mr. Speaker, the Economic Forecast Council has advised government on what they see growth to be, and that helps form the basis of a lot of assumptions and risks within the budget. Significant when you're talking about a budget that is now spending $89 billion. And when this government took office, it was 75% lower at $54 billion. So a point one difference is a massive difference to the books. Last year, this government listened to the Economic Forecast Council and did what they always do. They actually went below the Economic Forecast Council's projected growth of GDP for British Columbia and budgeted accordingly. And even at that, they were still behind on projections and saw a bigger deficit than they were projecting. This year in the backdrop of a record deficit with the removal of forecast allowances, with the removal of continuancies that actually are higher than the projected deficit, they've actually chosen to budget higher growth than the Economic Forecast Council is projecting. Pretty convenient to do in an election year, Mr. Speaker. And I believe it was an election year that that was the last budget budget that we saw in this chamber. British Columbians deserve full transparency from this government when it comes to what they are doing. The minister talks about some programs and I'll touch on them in my comments. And she at least acknowledges that they're for one year. So while the government this year is going to reach into taxpayers' pockets, their left pocket for an extra $4 billion, and they'll stuff a couple hundred million dollars back in it with the right hand pocket, next year they're digging into both pockets again because they're one year programs. Once again, very convenient in an election. And I think the public will see through that. We heard a lot in the speech about the strong job growth in British Columbia. You only have to go to page 79 in their own budget document to see what very clearly says and in fact, private sector jobs have declined by 6,300 jobs in the last year. Doesn't quite match up with what we heard in the throne speech just two days ago. It really does make one wonder what information this government is picking and choosing to insert into which speech at which time when they want to create a certain narrative. Now at BC United, we've been trying to advance issues and ideas that we see in this budget. For two years now, our leader, one of the first things he committed to when he became leader of BC United, then BC Liberals at the time was IVF. So three budgets later, we see IVF finally appear and we fully support that it's there. We think that's great. We've asked for it for 22 months now but in typical NDP fashion, it's going to get mired over the next year in a think tank. Now, NDP government is not inventing IVF. They're simply funding it. It's a program that exists right now. People are accessing this now. People are taking out second mortgages and trying to figure out how to get lines of credit to access IVF now as they have for the last 22 months. So in the backdrop of $32 billion of healthcare spending in this year's budget, would it really have been that hard for the government to have found the $34 million to fund IVF immediately and give a billing number to the doctors so people could actually get that treatment now? Here, here. Instead of waiting till after the next election to start it in 2025, we really need to go through a bureaucratic red tape exercise to have a billing number for doctors and medical professionals that are already working with patients to provide IVF in the province. We talk about cynicism when it comes to a budget. And that's just one piece where this government is failing within this budget. And it's all about the numbers within the numbers. BC United, we've been calling on the employer's health tax to see a change in either the rates or the thresholds. We never dreamed the government would do what they did today where, yes, they increased the threshold for one set of businesses. And when we said adjust the rates, they must have misunderstood us because we meant adjust the rates down. Instead, what they've actually done is they've doubled the rate you pay if you're the payroll over 1.5 million. Now, for most employers, that's if you have people around 30 or so employees on what wages are today. That's who will get hit with this. Ask yourself how many greenhouse operators and agricultural operators have at least 30 people that work for them, a very labor-intensive form of agriculture. Their rates didn't get reduced today. Not as the finance minister would want those people to try to think, no, in fact, your cost of groceries with his budget just went up because of the added cost. The doubling of the rate that businesses will have to pay on employers' health tax. Well, this side, the other side, was applauding. And all one has to do is look at the budget to see they're actually slating to collect more actual dollars than they did last year. Only the NDP could collect more money and try to spin it as if they're saving businesses' money. The devil is always in the detail with this government, Mr. Speaker. Property transfer tax thresholds. BC United called for that and has committed to that to be a million dollars for first-time home buyers. It's currently 500,000. But if you go over five, well, 525, you get absolutely nothing right now under the current system. BC United committed that we would change it to a million dollars to better reflect what has happened to the housing market under this Premier's leadership of watching us become the most expensive housing market with the most expensive rents in North America. Would this government match that? No. Instead, we have a convoluted system that they put forward that has moved the threshold, kept lower thresholds, will save people at a maximum 8,000 dollars instead of doing what should have been done as we'd committed to with the thresholds we talked about which would actually save 18,000 dollars to that first-time home buyer. You ladder that with our rent-to-own program and you would have people actually having hope that they could stay in British Columbia and get ahead as the minister tried referencing. But again, it's a budget of half measures that isn't actually going to help very many people. And it's critical that we provide that hope to younger people. That was the whole premise behind the BC United Commitment around rent-to-own because under this NDP government, it's the 37 years, I believe it is now, to save for a down payment. Under rent-to-own, you'd be maximum three years. That's attainable. That's something younger people actually can see a future for themselves in. And when you look in the budget documents, again, produce government documents, there's issues that we need to address as a population. Our share of population in the country is projected to go down, which means transfer payments from the federal government will go down. And that only happens when you have interprovincial migration as a negative number. 15, 15 straight months, five straight quarters. And see, this is the problem, Mr. Speaker. I get that the other side probably didn't get access to the budget book either. And we go through this exercise every year. So they haven't actually read the budget book. They're listening to the speech from the minister. But I would encourage them to actually read their own government-created document, wherein, as it says, for the last five straight quarters or 15 months, there's been negative interprovincial migration, primarily to Alberta. And what's happening in Alberta? Oh, housing's much cheaper. And that's why you see people literally flying on a plane twice a week from Calgary to Vancouver to go to UBC because it's cheaper than paying rent in Vancouver. That has not been addressed in this budget. The speech makes it sound very, very good. And I would hope so. There's, what, 500 communications people working for the government helping to write speeches. So what would hope? They could come up with some language that would sound very pleasing. But it doesn't actually deliver the results we're looking for. So the problem with all of these things start to connect together. So we have interprovincial migration heading off to Alberta in record numbers. Last time we saw that was actually when the NDP were in government. Private sector job declines, page 79. Page 80, they're projecting slower job gains. Page 81, this is where they talk about the five consecutive quarters of interprovincial outflow of workers, teachers, firefighters, paramedics. You know, all those people we need to help people in our province leaving because they don't see a future here. And then you dig into some of the other numbers and the contradictions from this government from literally a thrown speech two days ago to their own budget document today. All those same workers I referenced that we need to help battle the mental health and addiction crisis. An area that on Tuesday this government said there was 3,600 treatment spaces in British Columbia. On Thursday when you read the budget document they're only funding 2,200. And in fact the language is all maintain and continue funding, not increase funding. There's not one area in the mental health and addictions minister shaking your head at me which is shocking because it's actually her area that she should know is maintain and continue not expand and increase. That is the problem. We have a government with record spending, record deficits, an operating deficit that I would point out when they took office took over the reins of government was effectively wiped out. In today's budget it's $22 billion. Operating deficit. So the government loves to talk about the capital side of the equation and we're all in favor of building things but we actually get stuff built first off and not delayed. But a $22 billion operating deficit in this year's budget. So the taxpayers at home are wondering what am I getting? We've seen spending increase from 54 billion to $89 billion a year under this government's watch since 2018-19. 75% increase in spending. Does anyone at home feel that their services are 75% better? Do they feel crime and safety is 75% better than it was before? Do they feel access to healthcare is 75% better than it was before? Do they feel their permitting times to get anything approved through government is 75% faster than it was before? How about affordability? Do they think things are getting cheaper when the government keeps spiking how much they're spending? Now I know the minister likes to say some people say cut. Never actually wants to say who those some people are. I would challenge anyone on that side to find any quote of me saying we're cutting healthcare that we're prepared to cut education and I would make it, well, there we go. We've mission accomplished, I guess. We'd see how long they last before they start heckling on a day they don't normally heckle. I would challenge anyone on the government benches because our leader at BC United, myself and everyone else in our caucus has been very clear we're not talking about cuts. We're talking about efficient effective use of taxpayers dollars and respecting them instead of just over spending. This is a government that has no problems reaching into the taxpayers pocket time and time and time again and they can't even live within that. They have ballooned people's share of the debt from $8,500 when they took office to $22,000 now. I want the people at home to just think about that in their own household budgets if they could withstand it because you know who's actually paying for that increase? The people at home. That is the overall problem with this budget. It simply doesn't stand the test. As I say, we have all sorts of measures that were real and tangible that BC United has pitched for it and as we move through the budget I think people are gonna see a very clear compare and contrast opportunity. So when we said that we would remove the use cars tax on cars under $20,000, this government has fallen on deaf ears despite their own warnings from their own staff that will disproportionately impact low income and male and rural people. We said we'd remove the provincial fuel tax of $0.14.5 a liter. This government will say, oh, look at Alberta though, they did that and the prices went up. What they don't talk about is in the same timeframe the prices in BC went up twice as much. So it had nothing to do with the tax in terms of that price tag. We said we'd remove carbon tax on home heating bills. And when you see people posting online pictures of $77 of carbon tax for home heating and $53 for gas, it's a problem. This government won't even freeze it. They're proud that they're raising it and going to be even more punitive to homeowners. Property transfer tax threshold. Again, simply not good enough. No rent to own. The PST on construction, BC United in trying to bring down the price of housing construction is committed to all new construction. PST removed on those inputs. What does this budget show us from this government? They're actually projecting housing starts to flat line and go down a little bit. And at the same time, they're projecting an ever increasing amount of PST to be collected on new home construction. So on the one hand, the Premier wants to talk about bringing down the cost of housing in British Columbia and housing construction. On the other hand, his budget is literally budgeting on the per square foot cost of new construction to increase. Once again, it's their own budget document. The two simply don't match. And that is why after seven and a half years of rhetoric, people are seeing no results. This is a budget full of rhetoric and numbers that are questionable at best. There's just so much that is to be covered. And I will take a little bit of leeway with my colleagues' support, hopefully. Because I am from Camelops. And so I'm gonna talk about just one local project that we've been fighting for now for four years. It's the Camelops Cancer Center. Now, that was promised by myself from my seatmate here during the election in 2020. Then Premier Horger and jumped in and suddenly made the same commitment a couple of days later and said doors will actually be open in October of 2024 by then. And since then, it's just been one excuse after the other. And then this spring, the health minister came to Camelops and said, doors will be open by 2027. So it's amazing from the spring of 2023 to 2027. That's a four-year window. Yet the minister was saying it was just so complicated they couldn't get it done from 2020 to 2024. It's still a four-year window. I guess it was really around political will. Not so much about construction timelines. But I digress. That was just in the spring. The minister was just in Camelops two weeks ago and said it'll be open by 2028. So he had another delay that says it'll be open. Actually announced $359 million. Yet the amazing thing is, there's no mention of $359 million for the Camelops Cancer Center in this budget anywhere. Now, I could understand, given that design is happening this year, that you might have more money in next year's fiscal plan or the following year's fiscal plan. But given that it's a three-year fiscal plan, on a cancer center that's supposed to be substantively completed by the end of this three-year fiscal plan, one would think, at least in year three of the fiscal plan, there would actually be money. I mean, you announced IVF today with no money in this year's fiscal plan for it whatsoever, and all the money is in year two and year three, but you still announced it. It's actually in a chart. You can actually tangibly see the money each year for IVF. Again, a good thing, very delayed, but a good thing. But you don't see that for the Cancer Center. In fact, you don't see it for the Nanomal Cancer Center either. Often talked about never delivered upon. So those are about some very salient examples, I guess I'll use the word. Of why it's important that the public dig into this budget document, that opposition dig into this budget document, that we actually have the full six days to debate this budget document, and that estimates happen in their entirety for this budget document, because frankly, none of the numbers match the rhetoric we heard in the budget speech. They just simply don't. Even something like the flipping tax, which again, our leader, BC United, has stated all along, we're fine with the flipping tax, but it has to actually be effective and meaningful and actually make sense. Not only is it very confusing how it's written in the book, so we'll wait to see the legislation and dig into that, but it actually points out that it's going to impact women more so. Government's own budget book, just like with the used cars, they've actually highlighted that this is going to impact women more disproportionately. Interesting way to introduce the tax, to knowingly do it where you know you're going to impact women negatively, disproportionately to men. Again, all language coming straight from their budget book, not that I've had to create whatsoever. So Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is this, this budget is certainly not what is hyped to be. I think people will see that over the next while. I certainly am confident that as we get into further scrutiny, people will see that. And ironically, because the government decided to introduce the throne speech in the budget, in such an interesting fashion we'll call it this year, and back to back and do this on a Thursday, we'll have all weekend now. Instead of the usual rush to go through tonight to figure out all the fine points, details, and when we get back to budget speeches on the next day, we'll actually have all weekend. To really scrutinize what this government is frankly not doing in this budget, and all the missed opportunities. When you have a budget that's spending $89 billion, and you have this many missed opportunities, that's shocking. It's just shocking. So Mr. Speaker, it's clear that this NDP budget is a complete mess, and it is set to only get worse. The rest assured Mr. Speaker, BC United, we have a plan to fix it. Thank you for the time. I agree. Sir, am I right? I agree with the debate. Motion was to adjourn the debate. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? And carried. Mr. Finance. Honorable Speaker, I have the honor to present a message from her honor, the Lieutenant Governor. Her honor, the Lieutenant Governor transmits here with the bill, Intitual Budget Measures Implementation Act 2024, and recommend the same to the legislative assembly. Minister. Mr. Speaker, I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time now. Honorable Speaker, I am pleased to introduce the Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2024. This is the first Budget Measures Implementation Bill that will be introduced this session. The second bill, which will create a new tax statute for the flipping tax, will be introduced in early April. This bill consists of two parts. Part one, amends two statutes in order to implement non-tax measures in budget 2024. An amendment is proposed to the Balance Budget and Ministerial Accountability Act to include the 26-27 fiscal year in the period of fiscal years for which budget deficits are allowed to be forecasted in the main estimates. This is consistent with similar amendments made in recent years. Amendments are also proposed to the Special Accounts Appropriation and Control Act to establish a First Nations Equity Finance and Special Account. Under oversight and direction of Treasury Board, this special account authorizes a Minister of Finance to provide grants and equity loan guarantees intended to assist First Nations with meaningful equity participation in projects in the province where there is interest and readiness. Part two, amends a number of statutes in order to implement the tax measures in budget 2024. Bill three, amends the NISCA Final Agreement Act, the Treaty First Nations Taxation Act, and various other statutes to implement a new legislative framework. This will broadly enable modern treaty nations to self-determine their own approaches to assessment and property taxation on their respective NISCA lands or treaty lands effective as of the 2025 taxation year. Bill three, amends the Assessment Act to better align provincial assessment rules with unique aspects of NISCA lands, treaty lands, as well as the modern treaty nation governance. The Assessment Act is also amended to provide BC assessment with the authority to phase in assessment increases over five years rather than three years for certain linear properties. This is to provide flexibility for substantial increases to assessments for these properties. The Bill amends a Property Transfer Tax Act effective April 1st, 2024 to increase the newly built home exemption threshold from $750,000 to $1.1 million. It also increases the eligible property value threshold for the first time home buyers exemption from $500,000 to $835,000 with the first $500,000 exempt from property transfer tax. The Bill also provides exemption from the general property transfer tax for new purpose built rental buildings acquired between January 1st, 2025 and December 31st, 2030. The Bill amends a Speculation and Vacancy Tax Act to expand the definition of registered occupier to include all registered leaseholders of a residential property and to make technical amendments to the Act. The Bill amends the Employer Health Tax Act to increase the exemption threshold at which remuneration becomes taxable from $500,000 to $1 million. The Bill also includes corresponding changes to implement the increase to the threshold. The Income Tax Act is amended to introduce a temporary enhancement to the BC Family Benefit to exclude animation productions from eligibility for the regional and distant location tax credits and to extend the training tax credits for apprentices and for employers as well as extend the shipbuilding and ship repair industry tax credit. The Income Tax Act is also amended to exclude oil and gas exploration expenditures from the mining exploration tax credit to extend the determination period for certain claimants under the BC Emergency Benefit for Workers Program, to extend deadlines under the Clean Buildings Tax credit and to make various technical changes and to harmonize with federal income tax provisions. The Insurance Premium Tax Act is amended to exempt farmers from insurance premium tax when paying premiums for provincial agricultural insurance programs offered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Bill III authorized retroactive regulations under the Carbon Tax Act so that qualifying retail dealers can use excess biomethane from previous reporting periods to issue biomethane credits in future reporting periods. Technical amendments are also made to the Carbon Tax Act, the Motor Fuel Tax Act and the Provincial Sales Tax Act regarding penalties, offenses, and to provide the director of tax the discretion to require electronic returns. Technical amendments are also made to the Provincial Sales Tax Act on refund rules, the production machinery and equipment exemption for clean energy and the PST treatment of software. The bill also makes technical amendments to the Financial Administration Act and the Motor Fuel Tax Act regarding interest rules under the International Fuel Tax Agreement. Finally, the bill amends multiple tax and revenue statutes to harmonize appeal provisions under these statutes as well as other technical amendments. I'm going to get the first reading of the bill. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, motion carried. Mr. Finance. Honourable Speaker, I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today. You have heard the motion. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, motion carried. Minister. Honourable Speaker, I have the pleasure to rise to table government's overall strategic plan and the budget and fiscal plan 2024, 2025 to 2026, 2027, which together fulfill the requirements of sections seven, eight, 10, and 12 of the Budget, Transparency, and Accountability Act. Honourable Speaker, I also table on behalf of the Minister's responsible, the service plans as required under section 13 of the Budget, Transparency, and Accountability Act. The service plan documents are presented in two binders. The first binder contains a service plan for the Office of the Premier and 23 ministries. The second binder contains service plans for 30 service delivery agencies and Crown corporations. The second binder includes a listing of organizations that are exempt from the reporting requirement of section 13 of the Budget, Transparency, and Accountability Act. Comrade House Leader. Thank you, Honour Speaker. I move the House now, adjourned. You heard the question. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, motion carried. This House stands adjourned until 10 o'clock Monday morning.