VICTORIA – Finance Minister Mike de Jong says he hasn’t found a magic money tree to throw cash at British Columbians, but he does have a balanced budget that keeps income taxes at the lowest rates in Canada.
De Jong outlined details of Tuesday’s surplus budget during a chamber of commerce lunch in Victoria.
Premier Christy Clark was at a chamber lunch in Surrey, defending her government’s decision to use much of the budget’s $879 million surplus to pay down debt.
READ MORE: Highlights from B.C.’s latest budget
De Jong pleads guilty to increasing medical services premiums, saying public health care is not free, but notes B.C. is keeping health spending levels below three per cent, and the province is home to the healthiest people in Canada.
He says hydro, ferry and auto insurance rates are rising, but B.C. taxpayers earning $122,000 or less pay $10,037 in income taxes, while Quebec taxpayers pay $18,290.
Opposition New Democrat finance critic Carole James says the Liberals deserted the middle class in the budget, deciding to drop a two-per-cent income tax on high-income earners.
WATCH: 2015 BC Budget: Taking a closer look
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