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VICTORIA—Premier John Horgan’s second budget offers significant funding for initiatives that will primarily benefit working people, says Unifor.
“The BCNDP government is making good on its promises to make life more affordable for British Columbians,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
The flagship program launched in the 2019 provincial budget is the income-tested B.C. Child Opportunity Benefit, which will replace the B.C. early childhood tax benefit. The new program is more than twice as generous as the program it replaces, and expands eligibility to families with children up to 18 years old, up from 6 years old.
The budget also makes much-needed investments in health care, poverty reduction, transit, and directs $679 million for the CleanBC climate plan introduced last year with input from Unifor. Finance Minister Carole James also announced the elimination of interest on provincial student loans.
“Families were left out in the cold for more than a decade under the B.C. Liberals, who used their years in power to enrich the province’s wealthy,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor Western Regional Director. “However, workers are still suffering under Gordon Campbell-era labour laws and it’s important that the Horgan government take swift action to restore workers’ rights.”
