Vancouver Sun

CRUNCHING NUMBERS

Finance minister scans books

- Rshaw@postmedia.com twitter.com/robshaw_vansun

B.C.’s new NDP government will introduce an updated budget in September, but will largely leave in place the core financial plan of the previous Liberal government until next year, says Finance Minister Carole James.

James said she and her colleagues are still working on New Democrat financial figures for a budget update in September. However, the short time crunch means the NDP’s full fiscal plan won’t come until the 2018-19 budget in February, she said.

James, the former NDP leader who steered the party through the 2005 and 2009 provincial elections, was named finance minister in Premier John Horgan’s cabinet late last month.

Q Now that you’ve had a look at the former Liberal government’s books, have you seen anything concerning?

A It’s early going, we’ll take a look at the public accounts when they’ll come out, which we expected to be in the next few weeks. It will be no surprise that, in discussion­s from other ministers, we are watching and will want to look closely at the issue of B.C. Hydro and ICBC and the challenges that are there.

Although there’ll be a surplus coming forward, the pressures of all the programs and services that have been cut, the affordabil­ity pressures families are facing right now, that’s going to be the biggest challenge.

Q The Liberals had an estimated surplus this current fiscal year of $293 million in the February budget, since then they’ve said the economy has taken off. How much of a bigger surplus are we tracking now?

A We’re in the early stages of developing the budget ready for September, because as you know the timelines are going to be a crunch. I’m not able to talk about specifics of it yet, because we’re in the early stages. It will be balanced, I can tell you that.

Q What else can we expect from the NDP budget in September?

A The full-year budget will come in February when we have a full fiscal year.

Because we have a month, we’ll really be utilizing existing ministry budgets and specific targeted promises and commitment­s we made that we’re able to bring forward in September … more than anything because of the timelines and the ability to make changes to ministry budgets.

Q Does the NDP still intend to follow through on the campaign promise to increase taxes on corporatio­ns and high-income earners?

A Now as finance minister as you probably know I can’t talk about taxes and any changes that might be coming in the September budget, because I’m bound by finance rules … that may give an ability for some people to utilize that informatio­n. You’ll have to wait for the September budget. It will be a nice surprise.

Q What are the other top files on your desk now?

A Expectatio­ns are going to be one of our biggest challenges

... you’ll have heard me say this before the election as well, it’s going to be difficult to take 16 years and undo what’s happened over 16 years when it comes to the pressures.

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t get started.

We will continue to look at how we ensure there is strong economic growth in our province.

Q You and Victoria-Swan Lake MLA Rob Fleming were recently part of a $500-a-ticket local fundraiser July 27. The NDP has promised to ban corporate and union donations, but the legislatio­n hasn’t been passed yet and in the meantime are you not selling access to yourself as a minister the same way the NDP criticized the Liberal government for doing?

A You’ll see legislatio­n coming forward. The reality is the rules are in place and we will fundraise and need to fundraise coming out of a campaign and continue to do that.

We’ve done different kinds of fundraiser­s. I’m also the MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill and have to fundraise in my constituen­cy. We’ll continue as we’ve done to make sure we’re living within those rules and change the rules this fall.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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 ?? CHAD HIPOLITO ?? Finance Minister Carole James says managing expectatio­ns and pressures are key challenges.
CHAD HIPOLITO Finance Minister Carole James says managing expectatio­ns and pressures are key challenges.

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