ine lerrace stanaara, vveanesaay, repruary 20, ZUUS - AY

On Track for.a Brighter Future

On Target for a Balanced Budget
Last year, ‘the provincial government introduced a three-year pl 3

three goals: to restore sound fiscal management, revitalize the econo y.
and put patients, students and People in need first...

_ The plan j is working. In 2002- 03, every government ministry: is foreca
- to be: within its operating budget and the deticit is: expected:
$600: thillion lower than originally planned. The debt is expected to b

_' |). $3.5 billion lower than anticipated a'year ago. The economy has grown *
|. at almost three times the rate anticipated by independent forecasters.
“And administrative and other efficiencies have meant more dollars: for.

patient care and student achievement.

Budget: 2003 will strengthen our competitiveness and quality of life:

while keeping B. C. on track forva balanced budget.”

: Balancing the Budget

$ Billions uo : an
0.275 ee

on uae ; :

paoted
Updat
M4 tterad
Pan

“2002/03 08/0: ROS > 05706

’

t

. More Resources for Students

: “Together with health care, education is our. government’ s top priority. eo |

“That's why, even as enrolments decline, we-will m intain. the

$4, 86 billion education budget this year. and: increase it by” $143 E fe fe
million over the next. three years, ensuring more. e money | is in the .

System for every student.

Post-secondary students are. @ benefiting, too. In the past 20 months, ~
_we:have committed almost t $90 million + to advanced education for?

access sand research.

“The government wil also provide z a total of $85 million in n one-time
: "funding for education, advanced education and d early ‘childhood:
ss “development in in: 2002- 03. ia

“intreased: health spending ir in 2002-03 by 12 per’ cent $1, Tbilion

— to S108 ‘A billion.

We've: sigo embarked on a wide-ranging plan of renewal, to better
es manage’ resources, increase efficiency and ensure every dollar goes to
meet patients’ needs. As a result, 538 more. nurses were able to | ee
_ ‘practice i in B.C. in 2002 than in 2001, administrative costs within health ~ |:
~ ministries: will have fallen by about 45 per cent by 2004-05, and by

2009; universities will be graduating almost twice ¢ as many doctors as’

langes | in’ Budget 2003 — - plus every ‘dollar of the expected,
$1.3 billion-in new, _ three-year federal. health funding — will advana :

. us s further toward a sustainable, patient-centred system.

Opening Up Our Heartlands.

modern, ‘effective transportation system and a strong forest industry

re key. to opening up our heartlands and revitalizing. our, econom

| at's why our government has launched “y taligportation p plan, . a
mmitting $650 million over the next three years and leveraging
‘additional funding fromthe federal government. This plan will allow.

: for improvements to roads, bridges and border crossings that will}

: eee all British Columbians — from the Kicking Horse Canyon to.

. Sob build « on forestry reforms introduced to date, including the new.

~ results-based Forest and Range Practices Act, Budget 2003 will support:
. “significant changes | in the year ahead — including tenure policy reform ”
and: moving to market-based timber pricing. it will provide $275 million. :

'

inf fiscal’ 2002-03 to assist in the transition to a more competitive,’
~» sustainable f forest industry and $95 million over three years for
“potential revenue-sharing arrangements with First Nations, in exchange -

Or certainty that allows all regions and all British, Columbians t
rosper from our. resources.

“Increased Education spénding:
-. Despite Declining Enrolment |
oe "suis
oe 2 610,000 7 Student . K-12 a
oe Enrolment _. Per Student

re "Funding
“5,600,000 7 — 7

=. 390,000 +] -

570,000:

All Federal |
Provinces Government...

$650. Million i in Transportation
vements Over 3 Years
millions) -

“Other
Projects

Airports —
and Ports
“2 $30

Baris

. Ministry of Finance

For more details an this year's budget, visit www,bcbudget.gov.be.ca. . :