on track for secon

balanced budget

Canadian and international

British Columbians can look forward
to another balanced provincial budget
in 1996 while cducation and health
care are fully protected. It will be the
second balanced BC budget in a row.

“Our government made a commitment to get ric
of the deficit without tiking the ‘slush aad burn’
approach to medicare and education that Canadians

“are facing in-other provinces.’ says BC Finance -

Minister Elizabeth Cull. .

“Were fulfulling Uva commitment, We'll have a
stirplus in our current budget vear, We've set the

stage fora second halanced budpet this spring. And
we're protecting the health and education services
of ordinary British Cohimbians.”

Strongest economy, most jobs created

BC leads the country again this year in employment
growth --#4,.000 new full-time jobs in 1995,

177.000 new jobs since 1992,

“It’s no accident that BC has the strongest
cconomy, the best erédit rating and the lowest per
capita debt in Camiday says Minister Cull, “We're
committed to continuing this course because
we know that the hest w ay to gurantee jobs,
educational opportunities and quality health care

BC'S ECONOMY REMAINS STRONG... -

aoumany jo Lituyy yg saunas,

C now w has a balanced budget The BC government
will end the 1995/96 fiscal year with a budget’
surplus — eliminating the provincial deficit one

“year ahead of schedule. The government plans to.
bring Ina second balanced budget for the 1996/97
fiscal year by focusing on protecting needed

services and further reducing overhead, duplication S

and: ad inistration costs,.

: Family af four earning $55,000 a year

Que. Man. Ont. Ntid. Sask. NS NB PEI BC Alta.

BC taxes second
lowest in Canada —

BC has the second lowest total direct taxes and.
sales tax rate in Canada. 1996 will mark the third

$12,000

$19,000]

$4,000

$2,000} ~ .-

al Lonany LApoay annoy

British Columbia continues to have the lowest’ -

taxpayer-supported debt per capita In Canada,”

- Including BC.21 debt and other investments in

schools, roads and hospitals, As a result, BC-
spends jess on interest payments to sérvice: the

debt than any ¢ other Province,

-time Jobs (000s)

EPELTY GYMS ai09G

| 1992 1993 1994 1985

- "Jobs up again

year. of the provinclal government's freeze on BC :

income, sales and consumer taxes, -

British Columbia continues to lead Canada
employment growth. More than 44,000 new
full-time jobs were created in British Columbia: in

. 1995. By investing In our public infrascructure,
building the skills of our workforce and protectin

our environment, the governhent Is making BC an:

: attractive place t to do business.

investment firms give BC top marks

isto keep the BC economy prosperous and
successful”

Corporate tax cuts don't make sense

“We dant agree with those who believe BC
should cut health and education services, stop
building Iranspartation and other job: supporting
‘public infrastructure, and give tax breaks to-
corporations, Such an approach would not create:
jobs, it wouldl harm our econonyy, Te would damage
the health care services BC families count on. Ht
would cut educational opportunities for yoting
people and it would deprive our economy of the
investment needed to sustain job creation and
economic growth.”

The 1996/97 BC budget will continue the.
governments cmpliisis on jobs and economic
urawth while keeping BC's debe the lowest in
Canad,

airless Creirtts Sar arFUTaCaERaRMIRa Heater aac areata naeetee paceman tantaeetoeiee eee aaet T

“Strong economic growth coupled with
spending restraint is tbe best for muita
for a lower deficit and British
Columbia is benefitting from that

formula.”

— Paine Webber Corporate Bond Research,
New York, November 1995

“BC's AAt+ credit rating és the best in
ibe country.”
— Neshiu Burns, Toronto, Scprember 1995

BC tax freeze
keeps taxes
second lowest
in Canada

The average BC family pays the second
lowest provincial taxes in Canada (including
income, property, sales, fuel taxes and
health care premiums). And the provincial
government's continuing tax freeze will
help keep it that way.

For the third year init row there will be no
increase in persanal income lux, sles Lax Of Consumer
tax mites ih British Columbint this vec, E's part al
the provincil government's ongoing commitment
to-hold the line on taxes for middie class and working
fimili¢s while protecting key services slike health

care and education, | ,

Only Alberta has lower tixes, but Atberia's s dcht

is twice as large as BC's.