Chilliwack MLA John Martin echoed his colleague Chilliwack-Kent MLA Laurie Throness in criticizing the provincial NDP government’s budget tabelled this week in Victoria.
Both Martin and Throness pointed to increases in spending with little in the way of plans to stimulate economic growth.
“Since forming government the GreeNDP have tabled an additional $8 billion in taxes with no mention of plans to grow the economy,” Martin said Wednesday.
• READ MORE: Chilliwack-Kent MLA decries ‘classic, big tax-and-spend’ NDP budget
The BC Liberals as a whole were united in criticisms of increased taxes in various areas to pay for the new spending.
Martin similarly criticized a predicted 11 per cent increase in personal income tax revenue for the first year, which the BC Liberals say is equivalent to $1,000 for each family in B.C.
• READ MORE: BC BUDGET: Liberals blast ‘tax and spend’ plan
Martin was also critical of an increase to the carbon tax, which is no longer revenue neutral.
“Get ready to pay more at the pump.”
As for the elimination of Medical Services Plan (MSP) payments, the increase in the payroll tax to businesses with a payroll over $500,000 will result in job losses, according to Martin.
“Family-owned businesses will struggle to respond to this at the same time as the minimum wage hike kicks in,” he said.
• READ MORE: BC BUDGET: Payroll tax replaces medical premiums
Beyond the criticism over taxes, Martin said it was most notable to him that a six-lane freeway out to the Fraser Valley appears to be dead on arrival, and the status quo for commuters and commercial transport on Highway 1 will continue.
“This will not help encourage businesses that need to access points west to consider setting up or relocate to Chilliwack.”
Martin further had concerns about a missing $400 rental rebate and elimination of student loan interest, two items that were promised and will affect millenials.
On housing, he said the NDP’s promise of 114,000 new affordable housing units looks to come up short by 80,000 units.
“This will not help the housing situation in Chilliwack at all,” he said.
And with the recent acquisition of land for a new school in Chilliwack, and rezoning that took place Tuesday night by city council, Martin was disappointed that was left out of the NDP’s budget.
“There’s no mention whatsoever regarding classrooms in Chilliwack even as our population growth significantly outpaces the province over all,” he said.
• READ MORE: School district reveals ‘2020’ vision for new southside school
@PeeJayAitch
paul.henderson@theprogress.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.