B.C. Outlines Ambitious Pre-Election Agenda

On Tuesday, February 20, 2024, Lieutenant-Governor Janet Austin read the B.C. NDP government’s last speech from the throne prior to the October 2024 election. The speech’s second commitment was “helping people and small businesses with costs through new measures coming in Budget 2024, while tackling the root causes that make life more expensive.”  The government also made a major commitment to protect children from cyber-bullying by holding “big social media corporations to account.”  (B.C.’s 2024 budget will be delivered Thursday afternoon, February 22.)

Government made commitments regarding affordability, the major ones contained in the throne speech include several related to housing, a continuing commitment to low-cost child care, and a commitment to not raise individuals’ taxes or fees.

B.C. will continue to invest significantly in the electrical grid to ensure both businesses and residents are able to electrify and build a clean energy future. Government will continue to invest in climate preparedness to be ready for both the 2024 fire season as well as future climate emergencies including flooding (that broke supply chains in 2021).