As premier, my job is to ensure every action taken by government reflects the core values that built this province: create more opportunity, protect this magnificent place for future generations and take care of the people we love.
Every year brings its own unique challenges, but despite economic uncertainty across Canada and around the world, in 2016, our plan to put British Columbians first is returning dividends.
It started with our fourth consecutive balanced budget – with our fifth coming in February.
We’re on track to eliminate our operating debt for the first time since 1975. Instead of paying interest on borrowed money, we have more to invest in things like transit infrastructure (including the new Evergreen Extension that opened on December 2), health care, education and skills training – without going into deficit, and with the lowest middle-class taxes in Canada.
Because we’ve stuck to the BC Jobs Plan to attract investment and expand trade to create jobs, we’re leading Canada like never before: No. 1 in job creation in Canada, the lowest unemployment and, for the first time in 50 years, first in economic growth.
Along with sticking to our plan, hard-working British Columbians have made these accomplishments possible. But the real point is what it allows us to do.
For example, the ability to take action on housing affordability, with $855 million for almost 5,000 new units across B.C., an additional tax on international residential homebuyers to correct a distorted market, and investments to ensure the dream of home ownership is within reach of the middle class.
To help families, we made record investments to place more children in care in permanent adoptive homes, and started the Single Parent Employment Initiative, a program that helps parents get off social assistance by paying for their child care, tuition and transportation while they are taking classes or getting trained for a new job – and keeps their social assistance cheques coming. In just over a year, 4,000 British Columbians have taken us up on our offer.
In both cases, we made changes to make sure people have every opportunity to succeed. Because when people succeed, they lift others up with them.
With global uncertainty posing a risk to our economy, we have to stick to our plan to grow jobs and get to yes on economic development responsibly. That means sticking to our principles – balancing environmental protection with responsible, sustainable economic development.
In 2016, we received significant international recognition for our work on environmental protection and climate action. The landmark Great Bear Rainforest agreement was included in the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy initiative, and the United Nations honoured B.C. for our revenue-neutral carbon tax, holding us up as an example for the world.
B.C. continues to lead with our climate action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 megatonnes a year by 2050. Part of that is pursuing clean electricity. B.C.’s electricity is currently 98% clean, but with investments like Site C, we’re working toward 100%.
Clean electricity isn’t just good for the planet – it’s a competitive advantage. It helped land the investment decision for our first liquefied natural gas export facility, Woodfibre LNG. Along with other facilities exporting B.C.’s clean natural gas, Woodfibre will help reduce global emissions as growing (and polluting) Asian economies switch from dirty fossil fuels like coal. It’s a bigger potential reduction in global emissions than shutting down our entire province – every factory, house and school.
Sticking to our principles means not wavering or changing our minds on things like our five conditions on heavy oil pipelines. Late this year, the Trudeau government approved Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. This only happened after five years of progress on our five conditions, and the largest federal commitment in history to answer B.C.’s non-negotiable demand for world-leading marine spill prevention and response with the Oceans Protection Plan.
2017 brings with it a provincial election. I hope everyone will find time to consider the issues and exercise their right to vote – because if there’s one lesson from the U.S. presidential election, it’s that every vote matters.
There’s never been a better time to call yourself a British Columbian. My job in 2017 will be to continue to make sure our plan is working, to keep B.C. strong and put British Columbians first. •
Christy Clark is the premier of British Columbia.
