(Vancouver) The BC government's announced plan to increase MSP premiums by 50% is a regressive tax increase, says the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Taxes and tax cuts
(Vancouver) The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says the Finance Minister continues to adopt a Paul Martin approach to budgeting, low-balling his revenue estimates in order to garner praise later. "While he has revised the projected deficit for 2002/03 down slightly, we believe he continues to overstate the size of this year's deficit by about $1 billion," says Seth Klein, the Centre's BC Director. "The continued inclusion of a massive $750 million forecast allowance means the Finance Minister will surely beat his targets."
(Vancouver) In spite of superficial changes, the 2003 BC Budget moves ahead with the government's plan of deep spending cuts, says the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.