Building BC: investing in our future

tle Vor decades there has been a strong consensus
; in British Columbia that BG is a young, growing
provinec and thatthe provincial government has an
imporuuie cole to play in investing to help ensure
continued prosperity for BC fumilies. In today’s
competitive world, these investments are More
important chin ever. ,
frvesiing Ai Our Futiave: A Plan for BC sets out
affordable investment strutegies that will keep BC
competitive in de 21st century, actinic new business
and jobs, and ensure a strong econamy that works
for all British Columbians.

By emphasizing investment in skills training,
natural resources and infrastructure, the plan is
helping ensure. there are jobs for British Columbians
today, and jobs for our children tomorrow.

Investments in skills training: |
« the new Univer. sily of Northern BC in Prince
Georee.

the Salis Note training program ta expand work
experience ind apprenticeship training, establish

and assist unemployed workers to move from
welfare into the workforce,

anew stateofthe
of Technology,

wrt campus for the BC Institute

anew technical university lo be built in the
Fraser Valley,

13.300 new postsecondary spaces at BC colleges
and universities. and

Record sale of
BC Savings Bonds

British Columbians have more confidence than
ever in their province and it shows - British
Cohumbiins bought a record $1.3 billion worth of
BC Savings Bonds in 1995, The previous record of
$709 million was set in 1992, the first year chat
bonds were offered to British Columbians.

British Columbians know that
with the strongest economy and
highest credit rating; BC is. Canada’s
best place to invest, More than
76,000 residents of BC participated
in the campaign this year,

International credit riting agencies
have recognized for years that BC is
the best province to invest in. They
cite HC’s strang cconomy and the
prudent financial management. of the poyernment -
including freezing taxes, climinating the deficit and
controlling the debt - as the mudin reasons tor
investor confidence,

community skills Centres throughout the province

Tell us what you ‘hak

Your comments, suggestions and opinions are
important. Please take a moment to answer these

@ BC Benefits initiatives to help people move, from
welfare to work,

Investments in natural resources:

aa five-year Forest Renewal Phun to cepair and
replant forests, encourage new value-added jobs,
retrain forest workers and strengthen forest
communities,

a the Columbia Basin pawer project to create jobs
ind improve power generation plants in the
Kootenays, and

4
H
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“pure jo Anau 3g seunes,

anasoy tuopsaay) Sdpooy pue aIpng pesapay

Fed,
Govt,

. A compérison of budgets ‘shows BC spends a smaller
“2 portion of Its budget on debt'service charges than’:
“any other, province or the federal government, ‘Only
7.5. cents of each revenue dollar goes to service, ‘the

Hospitals
6%
Universities and
Colleges
11%

Lacal Sewers,
Water, Roads
18%

E! Highways, Transl,
Farrh

Sources BC Ministry ol Finance

- | Over the last three years the government has

“= ‘borrowed'$4,7 billion to build new. schéols; healt

=o -seare facilities, roads, ferries and other infrastructure.

°) Of the 7.5 cents the government: spends. out of ach’,
“crevenue dollar for debt interest payments, 3.3 cents

: oes to incerest payments on o infrastructure: sebt,

creation of the Forest Land Reserve lo ensure a
stable supply of timber forthe BC forest industry,

Investments in infrastructur oF

is

is

investment-in highways, roads, water and sewer
projects throughout the provinee to upgrade

* conumunity infrastructure,
anew Vancouver Ishind highway,
the Westview Interchange. and four major projects
to ease gridlock in the Lower Mainland astern
suburbs,

three new SkyTri Witt Stations in Surrey and 20 new
SkyTrain cars,

the Westcoust Express commuter rail service
from the Fraser Valley to downtown Viricouver,
anew mic-lshind ferry terminal and improvements
to other terminals;

construction of new fast ferries to reduce travel
times, revitiize ship building and create a new
high-tech export product, and>
two new super ferries added to the BC Ferries
eet anc the re-establishment of Victoria-Seattle
ferry service.

Did you know...

: aun ar
- NCE

The Auditor General, an independent office of
the BC Legislature, gave the government's
1994/95 public accounts an “unqualified”
opinion ~ top marks for an audit.

BC's debt munagement plan will cut the provincil
debt in half over the next 20 years, relative to
provincial GDP, without cutting health anc
education services.

The BC debt management plan is tougher than
the measures recommended to the premier by
the BC business community.

The BC government successfully trimmed an
extra 8400 million from its 1995 budget = by
cutting overhead. and administration — to
compensate forthe $250 million drap in
revenue from the loss of the Columbia River
Treaty downstream benefits.

_ New provincial funding for child care in BC has
helped increase licensed child care spaces by
48 per cent to just over 63,000.

fates

BRITS
COLUMBIA

BudgetGuide 96

is a publication of the om,

N Govemment of British Columbia £@33 -
SOR POR ATE ;
RELATIONS

QP-Tesae February [6

questions and give us your thoughts for the
1996/97 BC Budget.

NC's budget should maintain spending on heakh care
eAgree £2 Disagree

and education.

We can't afford investments in Lransportiden and community infrastructure
such us roads, sewers, and water projects right now.
VJAgree 2) Disagtce

Fetteral goevernmical cuts to funding for BC health, education and secial
programs are a mistake. They should look for other w ays tocar the feders ul
deficit,

DAgree [> Disagree

it is better to invest in education, trtining anc infrastructure projects that

will help the economy grow than to cut spending ind g give tax breaks to

banks and corpor: iON. _
we Agree ia Disagree

Tapprove a of the BC government's 's approach i ia hulancing the budget.
PAgreé 04 Disagree

Please send your comments to: BC Ministry of Finance, Parliament
Buildings, Victoria BC V8V 1X4, fax number (60-4) 387-3488 or you can
reach us on the Internet at Budget9G@gco pov. bec: ;

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