We appreciate the province's decision to raise the Employer Health Tax threshold from $500,000 to $1,000,000. This adjustment will allow small businesses to reduce their expenses and allocate those extra funds towards hiring staff or investing in innovative initiatives that drive productivity and business expansion.

We also welcome the ongoing investments in essential infrastructure, such as housing, healthcare, and education. Budget 2024 introduces a modest one-time BC Electricity Affordability Credit aimed at lowering electricity costs for commercial and industrial users, which will benefit businesses of all sizes.

 

However, the rise in expenditures and escalating debt levels projected in the fiscal plan raise concerns about the province's financial sustainability in funding the planned investments.
Continuing to rely on deficit spending means shifting the burden of financing current government services onto both present and future generations.