VICTORIA, B.C. – Today Finance Minister Carole James gave an economic and fiscal update for 2020-21, projecting a $12.5 billion deficit due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our province - like much of the world - will have a long road to recovery in front of us, and it isn’t going to be easy,” said Adam Olsen, B.C. Green Party interim leader and MLA for Saanich-North and the Islands. “While the challenges are significant, we are far from helpless in this. We can seize the once in a generation opportunity to strategically drive stimulus spending towards a future British Columbians want: an innovative, low-carbon, sustainable, just and inclusive economy for all.”
A Green Recovery would prioritize the health and well-being of British Columbians and our communities. The B.C. Green Caucus has brought forward concrete ideas to Government on how to best utilize the $1.5 Billion earmarked for recovery spending, based on the Caucus’s 7 point values-based framework.
Using CleanBC as our economic driver, we can be a leader in North America and rebuild in a way that delivers prosperity for our province. This means acting on the Innovation Commissioner’s recommendations and harnessing innovation to make BC’s traditional sectors more sustainable, investing in lifelong learning to support and transition our workers, creating job opportunities for our 147,100 unemployed youth and building local B.C. businesses into our supply chains.
“A Green Recovery means putting a focus not simply on shovel ready jobs - but shovel worthy ones. These jobs should enhance the security and stability of employment and contribute to building the economy we want our children kids to inherit,” said B.C. Green MLA Sonia Furstenau for Cowichan Valley. “B.C. needs a strong economic strategy that recognizes the critical need for a clean, resilient economy while addressing inequalities exacerbated and further exposed by COVID-19. Now is the time to make smart investments and instigate systemic change to benefit all British Columbians.”
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Media contact
JoJo Beattie
Press Secretary
B.C. Green Caucus
+1 250-882-6187 | [email protected]