BC Previews 2026 Budget Amid $11.2B Deficit

VICTORIA, British Columbia - British Columbia's finance minister, Brenda Bailey, previewed the province's 2026 budget on Sunday as a disciplined and focused plan aimed at safeguarding essential public services amid an economic downturn and a projected deficit of 11.2 billion dollars this fiscal year.

The budget, set for delivery on Tuesday, prioritizes funding for health care and education while allocating resources to bolster public safety measures. Bailey highlighted investments to address a wave of shootings linked to extortion threats, particularly in areas like Surrey. "The government will protect the core services of health and education," she told reporters during a pre-budget news conference, emphasizing continuity in ongoing projects such as new hospitals, schools, post-secondary facilities and housing developments.

Bailey, who assumed the role of finance minister in late 2024, recounted a brief period of optimism shortly after taking office. The COVID-19 pandemic appeared to be fading, with forecasts predicting gross domestic product growth of up to 3.5 percent. However, those hopes dimmed when the 2025 budget was released on the same day U.S. tariffs were announced,...