Legislative Watch
2nd Session, 39th Parliament
Issue 1 - March 9, 2010
Government Announcements and News
- Budget 2010 released – Budget 2010 commits $2 billion to Health care, the big winner, and
$100 million to climate action and clean-energy development. The Ministry of Finance forecasts the economy to grow by 2.2 per cent in 2010, up from 1.9 per cent projected in September 2009
update. The total provincial debt is forecast to be $47.8 billion in 2010-11. The deficit will be $1.7
billion in 2010-11, $945 million in 2011-12, and $145 million in 2012-13, returning to balanced
budgets by 2013-14. Read more
- PM & Premier announced 15 new projects - Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Gordon
Campbell announced support for fifteen new infrastructure projects across British Columbia to
improve highways, local roads and bridges throughout the province. The federal government will
invest more than $17 million in federal funding under the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.
Read more
- HST report purported to create jobs and investment – Finance Minister Colin Hanson announced
that sales tax harmonization and corporate tax cuts will increase capital investment by $14.4 billion and result in a net increase of 141,000 jobs by the end of the coming decade according to a new report by Jack Mintz. Read more
- Community Health Employees ratify agreement – The B.C. government ratified an agreement with community health employees on a new two-year contract, covering approximately 17,000 unionized workers primarily represented by the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union. The agreement includes no net compensation increases. Read more
- New Chief Judge Appointed - Attorney General Michael de Jong appointed Judge Thomas James
Crabtree as chief judge of the British Columbia Provincial Court. Crabtree is currently a judge in the South Fraser district, based in Chilliwack. Read more
Question Period Topics
- Budget debate
- B.C. Hydro Rates
- ICBC revenues to government
- Government support for tourism industry
- School district costs and funding
- Funding for arts and culture
- Harmonized sales tax
Status of Bills
BILLS INTRODUCED (first reading)
Government Bills
Reports
- Office of the Auditor General, report No. 9, 2009-2010, Electronic Health Record Implementation in British Columbia
- Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the 2009 Provincial Enumeration
