It’s hard to believe, but it has already been two years since Premier Christy Clark and the B.C. Liberals’ 2013 election win and Fraser-Nicola voters elected me as their MLA.
It has been a whirlwind – and a deeply fulfilling experience representing you.
Halfway through our four-year term, I am extremely proud of what our government has accomplished.
First, we are keeping our promises: maintaining fiscal responsibility and growing the economy, giving British Columbians the ability to build the lives they want, and standing up for what makes B.C. and Fraser-Nicola special.
Our government has balanced the budget for three straight years, with a responsible fiscal plan that’s on track to reduce B.C.’s operating debt to its lowest level since 1991, while continuing to invest in health care, education and infrastructure.
With a responsible, free-enterprise government, B.C. maintains the lowest overall tax burden in Canada for the vast majority of British Columbians, while leading the nation in reducing red tape.
In Fraser-Nicola, young people are getting more opportunities for rewarding careers thanks to the Skills for Jobs Blueprint. Just look at the new trades facility at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in Merritt, where Aboriginal students will get the training to participate in resource projects all over the Interior – and the new Mobile Trades Trailer in Clinton, where we are training the next generation of welders for the south Cariboo.
Determined to help more people move up the income ladder, our government has increased the minimum wage and brought in a formula to make future increases reasonable and predictable. And it has increased the monthly income exemption for those on income assistance, while working to deliver 13,000 new child care spaces over eight years.
With strong economic fundamentals and responsible fiscal management, experts at the Conference Board of Canada and BMO Financial Group expect B.C. to lead Canada in economic growth over the next two years.
And that’s something everyone in Ashcroft and Cache Creek can look forward to.
MLA Jackie Tegart