Jen Riley, President and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement in response to the release of Budget 2026 by the Government of British Columbia.
“As expected, Budget 2026 provides a sobering economic outlook for the province in the year ahead and over the three-year fiscal plan.
“Today’s budget offers little in the way of the needed economic incentives, programs, or policy shifts required to kick-start our economy, and which we have been advocating for, to grow the economy and generate prosperity for British Columbian citizens and businesses.
“Particularly alarming is the increase in the deficit to $13.3 billion next fiscal year, once again a record amount. The total provincial debt is going to rise from $154 billion to $235 billion by the end of the three-year fiscal plan.
Today’s deficits mean increased taxes in the years ahead. We are making our children pay for services that we receive today – this is short-sighted and unfair.”
Read the Full Statement Here
About the BC Chamber of Commerce
The BC Chamber of Commerce is the largest and most broadly based business organization in the province. Representing 85 local Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade and 32,000 businesses of every size and from every sector and region of the province, the BC Chamber of Commerce is uniquely positioned to “Know What’s on BC’s Mind.”