B.C. Budget 2009

You can read the budget here.

I don't really have a lot to say about it. It's pretty much status quo and under the circumstances it seems reasonable. I'd be very surprised if the deficits don't turn out a lot larger than forecast, but that is more a function of the incorrect economic models that underpin the economic forecasts (and is the mirror of how the surplus always comes in larger than expected during boom years).

As always, I'd like to see greater priority for income redistribution / measures to reduce poverty, reduction of debt levels, better planning for the future including expanded renewable energy generation, and preparation for a network of electricity rather than hydrogen powered gas stations, and more for transit, less for roads and so on. But given that we're talking about a right wing government here, we should just be happy they didn't decide to match Harper and company's billions for granite countertops program.