British Columbia.

• Author: Fershau, Jonathan
• Position: Legislative Reports

The First Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament opened on August 25, 2009. The first order of business was the election of the Speaker. Running unopposed, Bill Barisoff was re-elected as Speaker--the first MLA to serve in the position over consecutive parliaments since the mid-1980s. Linda Reid, a Member since 1991 and now the "Dean of the Legislature," was appointed Deputy Speaker and opposition member Claire Trevena was appointed Assistant Deputy Speaker.

Throne Speech

The Throne Speech, presented by Lieutenant Governor Steven Point, emphasized steps the B.C. government will take to strengthen the economy to create jobs, improve and protect vital services and manage taxpayer dollars prudently to avoid burdening future generations with unaffordable debt. The Throne Speech formally announced British Columbia's intention to harmonize the provincial Social Services Tax with the federal Goods and Services Tax, effective July 1, 2010.

In reply to the Throne Speech, the Leader of the Official Opposition, Carole James, observed that the move to implement the HST came quickly after the election, and argued that the government lacked a mandate from British Columbians to introduce the new tax. She also stressed the Opposition's priority areas for the session: improving access to postsecondary education, addressing child poverty and developing strategies to promote economic stability in the forestry sector.

September Budget Update 2009

On September 1, 2009, the Minister of Finance Colin Hansen presented the September Budget Update 2009/10 to 2011/12 and Estimates for the current fiscal year. In response to a "sharp decline in taxation and natural resource revenues," the Finance Minister announced revised deficit forecasts of $2.8 billion in 2009/10, $1.7 billion in 2010/11, and $945 million in 2011/12. Other highlights in the budget include:

* capital investments of $7.4 billion in 2009/10, $7.7 billion in 2010/11 and $6.5 billion in 2011/12;

* an 18 percent increase in funding to the Ministry of Health Services over three years;

* an increase in per-student funding for K-12 students; and

* a $151 million increase over three years in funding for social assistance programs.

In addition to the introduction of the HST, the September Budget Update included increases to the Medical Service Plan premiums paid by individuals and families. To offset some of proposed tax increases, the small business income tax threshold was increased to $500,000, and the...