Here’s a look at the highlights from the B.C. budget announced Tuesday by Finance Minister Mike de Jong:
1. MSP premium cut: Savings of up to $900 a year for families paying the maximum premium. See more >
2. Education: $740 million over three years for K-12 schools. See more >
3. PST proposed to be taken off business electricity bills. See more >
4. Housing: First-time buyers exemption from transfer tax rises to $500,000. See more >
5. Growth: A forecast of 2.1 per cent economic growth, slightly less than average of advisors.
6. Business tax cut: Small business corporate income tax drops from 2.5 to 2.0 per cent, becoming the second lowest in the country.
7. Disability assistance rate increase, of $50 a month for more than 100,000 people, worth $199 million.
8. B.C. student loan interest cut down to prime rate.
9. Ministry of children and families receives $287 million — nearly half of which will help aboriginal children.
10. Dark clouds: Finance minister warns strong B.C. exports right now could be “a blip” depending on protectionism of U.S. President Donald Trump.