Finance Minister Selina Robinson talks about financial aid due to inflation and the cost-of-living increases and support during a press conference at Goudy Field in Langford, B.C., on Sept. 7.CHAD HIPOLITO/The Canadian Press
British Columbia’s financial bottom line is showing signs of improvement, with a surplus of $706-million forecast for the current fiscal year, although the longer-range outlook foresees slowdowns and at least two consecutive deficits.
Preliminary numbers for the first three months of 2022-23 show the province in a stronger position than previously forecast, Finance Minister Selina Robinson said Monday.
But risks to future economic performance include inflation, interest rates, the Ukraine conflict and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, she said.
“B.C.’s economy is expected to continue its recovery this year and grow moderately next year as the impact of higher inflation and higher interest rates weighs on consumer spending and makes borrowing more expensive,” she said at a news conference.
“We also must remember the pandemic is not over,” said Robinson.
The New Democrat government had projected a $5.5-billion deficit for 2022-23 last February. But revenue increases from natural resources, income tax and property sales had turned the balance sheet from red to black, she said.
Economic headwinds are changing and slower growth appears to be ahead, said Robinson, adding that the economic growth forecast had been downgraded from four per cent to 3.2 per cent in 2022, and from 2.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent in 2023.
A budget deficit of $3.8-billion is forecast for 2023-24, followed by a deficit of $2-billion in 2024-25.
“But today’s update remains positive,” she said. “Our plan remains protecting people’s health and livelihoods today while building a bridge to economic recovery. A lot, and I guess I need to reiterate, can change between now and the end of the year.”
The government recently announced the province’s final audited budget for 2021-22 produced a surplus of $1.3-billion following forecasts of a deficit nearing $10-billion.
Robinson said the earlier deficit forecast of $9.7-billion was made during the darkest days of the pandemic when the province and other governments were preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.
Last week, the B.C. government announced a $600-million relief plan to help families most in need, as costs for goods and services rise.
Bryan Yu, chief economist at B.C.’s Central 1 Credit Union, said the economy has strengthened over the past year and the jobless rate is low, but rising interest rates, inflation and a dampening housing market will slow the economy.
“But I don’t think we’re going to see a mass stagnation in the economy,” he said in an interview.
Robinson said the quarterly report has earmarked $1.9-billion in the 2022-23 budget to cover “incremental cost of the Shared Recovery Mandate,” of labour contracts, which will include the recent tentative agreement between 33,000 unionized public service workers and the province.
She said the government is awaiting the results of the union’s ratification vote and will not likely know the settlement’s exact impact on the budget until the next quarterly report due later this year.
“I will be reporting out on the second quarterly and as soon as deals get ratified, we’ll certainly have more to say about how that plays out on government finances,” Robinson said.
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