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New Finance Minister warns of "troubling" numbers
VICTORIA/CKNW (AM980)
Sean Leslie | Email news tips to Sean
9/6/2012

BC's new Finance Minister is dangling the possibility of tax cuts, even as he warns of a worsening financial picture.

He's only been on the job for one full day, but Mike de Jong is already worried about falling revenues to government.

"I have already seen some numbers that are troubling."
"Like what?" 
"Natural gas."

And yet de Jong is echoing Premier Christy Clark's suggestion BC families could be in for some tax relief in the next year....just how?


He stresses the focus on growing the economy---and reining in government spending.

"Particularly in discretionary areas that do not relate to the provision of service."

If that sounds familiar, former premier Gordon Campbell also vowed to reduce discretionary spending.

Meanwhile, de Jong will release the government's quarterly fiscal update in victoria late next week.


He was speaking on the Simi Sara show on CKNW. 

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  • 12
  1. CosmicS posted on 09/06/2012 02:37 PM
    I reading tax/fee increase and a small one time rebate for those who can afford families. All this with with only one day on the job! He is a Boy Wonder!
  2. KenL_6250 posted on 09/06/2012 02:58 PM
    De Jong you know what to do about it cut the salaries of Liberal appointments just a small list Toope at UBC $750,000 Graydon at LCBC same $750,00, ICBC executives with mundane jobs $410,000, BC Ferries, Deputy Ministers, you must be brain dead not to figure this out, in crease the min wage (Same Panel that recommended mla's salaries) also recommended that they increase min wage to $17.50 per hour) why did the Liberals not follow up why because your a greedy group of individuals
  3. noparty posted on 09/06/2012 03:46 PM
    reduce tax, falling revenues, doesn't add up. The only thing he could possibly do is freeze ALL wages of ALL govt. people being paid out of revenue.IE no bonuses, built in grid adjustments, etc. Then he MAY have room for some modest reductions in the user fees paid by those in the lowest income categories, would be a real balancing act.
  4. SlimP_9860 posted on 09/06/2012 04:09 PM
    I wonder if Gordy set up all of this several years ago, so that as the provincial government teeters and totters like a high school girl on highheels and drinking mohitos for the first time, Christy would place a call to Ambassador Campbell pleading with him to return and run in 2013 and save us from the NDP. We need you Gordy, and Snooki does too.
  5. KenL_6250 posted on 09/06/2012 04:46 PM
    This guy does even have his facts right, BNN has reported that natural gas price will raise to $6.00 early next year, Why can a Liberal never get anything right what a buffoon!
  6. Jartann posted on 09/06/2012 06:13 PM
    There are three problems:

    1. Too much government spending
    2. Too much government spending and
    3. Too much government spending

    This has been a problem since part way in the second Campbell term, when he started running around the province announciing "funding" and new initiatives every week. Government is too big to be over seen by people elected under our parliamentary system. None of the people, Liberal, NDP or Conservative, are up to the job of truly over seeing these big organizations and huge budgets. There are people with a vested interest in the status quo of big government spending. Ask any NDPer-everything is "underfunded" so when they are elected we will be told that the books are a mess, they need to increase taxes on everyone (so sorry about that) and anyway funding must be "restored". They will chase business away, the economy will worsen, civil servants will be OK, and on it will go, just like the early 70's and the 1990's.

    But here in Kumbayaland, all will be well as we sit around singing songs and discussing sustainability. Work? Forget about it. Work and jobs are not environmentally sustainable. Better that we sit around doing nothing-collecting money from the generous government who cares so much for us.

    The madness begins May 2013.
    1. Garp posted on 09/06/2012 06:49 PM
      @Jartann I agree, “there are people with vested interest in the status quo of big government spending”. As you point out, these people exist in the NDP as well. Over time any government NDP, Conservative, and Liberal become tied to specific interest groups and govern with arrogance, and contempt for others – that’s where the Liberals are at now. They need time out just like the NDP in 1990.

      In BC we have the added frustration that this government has actually lied to the public and appears to have suppressed its lies and misconduct, ie basi / virk payoff – lack of transparency re the auditor general’s efforts to get to the justification for these payoffs. And above all, the unwillingness of the Clark Liberals to be transparent and call an inquiry into the BC Rail issues – if there is nothing to hide, why not call the inquiry? I don’t buy the money argument as this government has spent frivolously money in other areas – it just makes no sense.

      So my friend, its not about “Kumbayaland” as you naively put it, but about telling our elected officials we will hold them accountable.

      Governments are not voted into power, but rather out of power. The Liberals need a session in the penalty box
  7. bctaxpayer posted on 09/06/2012 07:00 PM
    This wonder boy was part of corrupt gordo's team,good for nothing and will be making NO contribution to this BC lie beral Finance dept.
  8. joes_2868 posted on 09/06/2012 07:54 PM
    BCtaxpayer: At least he does not wear an ankle bracelet like former NDP finance minister Dave Stupich.
  9. Jartann posted on 09/06/2012 08:44 PM
    @joes 2868 Dave Stupich has been dead for some time now.

    bctaxpayer: it is easy to anonymously accuse someone of corruption. It is much more difficult to prove. The Campbell government made some poor choices when it comes to spending money, but corruption suggests illegal activity by members of the government, and there is no evidence to support that claim. I am no fan of the Liberals as I believe them to be spendthrifts who aren't really sure what they stand for. But I get sick and tired of reading comments about corruption by empty headed fools who can provide no evidence of such corruption-as in naming names, amounts received, etc. If there is evidence of corruption, then by all means lets go after him or her. But there isn't any-incompetence, foolishness, bad ideas, certainly. But, it is not as if we have a group of geniuses just waiting to be elected. The NDP is a party of fools in the back pocket of public sector labour, greens and activist groups, and will be a disaster once again.
    1. Garp posted on 09/06/2012 10:31 PM
      @Jartann I agree the use of "corruption" is strong and wrong, but there is a reasonable basis to express concern for the integrity of some elected members in relation to the BC Rail case. The is also suspicion about the basi/virk legal fees, which are viewed by many as a means to suppress evidence of wrong doing.

      Geoff Plant who negotiated the deal said in an open letter that there was an agreement for a guilty plea and release for legal fees payable to the government. See his letter:

      http://theplantrant.blogspot.ca/2012/03/basi-virk-open-letter-to-john-van.html and judge for yourself.

      That coupled with the governments stone-walling of documents to the auditor general investigating the payment raises suspicion of wrong doing.

      What I can't figure out is why Christy Clark does not call an inquiry and establish the facts - why not, if there is nothing to hide.
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