BC Prosperity

Understanding British Columbia’s Public Management Challenge

— May 7, 2024

Understanding British Columbia’s Public Management Challenge finds that despite substantial spending increases by the B.C. government, the province’s health-care wait times have increased and student test scores have declined.

Canadian History Untold: Assessing the K–12 Curriculum Guides in British Columbia and Ontario

— Apr 25, 2024

Canadian History Untold: Assessing the K-12 Curriculum Guides in British Columbia and Ontario finds that the amount of Canadian history being taught to Ontario and BC students in K-12 is limited. In Ontario, what little Canadian history is taught doesn’t follow a logical, chronological order, and in BC’s case, it is overly-focussed on discriminatory events in Canada’s past.

The Role of Natural Resources in British Columbia's Economy

— Mar 22, 2024

The Role of Natural Resources in British Columbia’s Economy, by Senior Fellow Philip Cross, is the first essay in a new series looking at public policy in B.C. This essay quantifies the important role natural resources play in British Columbia’s economy, including the impact on both gross domestic product and employment.

British Columbia’s Current Spending Peak: Highest in History, Highest Growth in Canada

— Feb 21, 2024

British Columbia’s Current Spending Peak: Highest in History, Highest Growth in Canada finds that the B.C. government’s per-person spending in 2022/23, the latest year of available data, was nearly 20 per cent higher than in 2019/20.

The Collapse of Student Testing in BC High Schools: Participation rates plummet as student achievement wanes

— Jan 18, 2024

The Collapse of Student Testing in BC High Schools is a new study that finds participation in B.C.’s provincewide student assessments has dropped, and at the same time, fewer students are meeting the proficiency standards in numeracy and literacy (with one out of every two Grade 10 student failing).

British Columbia's Coming Debt Boom in Historical Context

— Jan 4, 2024

British Columbia’s Coming Debt Boom in Historical Context is a new study that finds over the next three years, the BC government plans to add a total of $35.6 billion in new debt (adjusting for both inflation and financial assets). This compares with additional debt of $9.9 billion after the pandemic and $17.8 billion after the financial crisis of 2008/09.

Recent BC Prosperity Commentaries and Blog Posts

British Columbians right to worry about secretive rushed approach to Aboriginal title

Mary MacGregor, Jock Finlayson

The legislation will implement an agreement with the Haida Nation to recognize Aboriginal title over the Haida Gwaii archipelago.

B.C.’s credit downgrades reflect government’s spending and debt binge

Tegan Hill, Jake Fuss

Appeared in Business in Vancouver, April 15, 2024

The government plans to overspend by $11.2 billion relative to its 2023 budget plan.

B.C. government maintains high tax rates despite prosperity gap in region

Jake Fuss, Grady Munro

Appeared in the Vancouver Sun, April 10, 2024

The province had the fourth-highest top combined income tax rate among 61 Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions.

Alberta and B.C. budgets represent two different approaches to government finances

Grady Munro, Tegan Hill

According to projections, government debt interest will cost nearly $1,000 per British Columbian by 2026/27.

B.C. government sparks debt explosion with far-reaching consequences

Tegan Hill, Jason Clemens

From 2019-20 to 2024-25, the government increased program spending by more than 50 per cent.

B.C. government accelerates EV transition while consumers and carmakers hit the brakes

Kenneth P. Green

Appeared in True North, March 13, 2024

Automakers are slowing down EV production plans and warning they see slower sales ahead.

B.C.’s day of ‘debt’ reckoning has arrived

Ben Eisen

Appeared in National Newswatch, March 7, 2024

The province forecasts huge deficits in each of the next four fiscal years.

B.C. budget spells disaster for province’s finances

Tegan Hill

Appeared in Business in Vancouver, February 29, 2024

The province's net debt will reach a projected $129 billion by 2026/27—nearly triple the pre-pandemic level in 2019/20.

B.C. government projects massive debt accumulation—and British Columbians will pay the price

Tegan Hill, Jake Fuss

The government plans to overspend by $11.2 billion relative to its 2023 budget plan.

Another big spending budget would drown B.C. government in red ink

Ben Eisen, Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Vancouver Province, February 21, 2024

In 2022/23, the latest year of complete data, inflation-adjusted spending reached a record high of $14,275 per person.

BC Prosperity Research Experts

John Chant

Professor Emeritus of Economics, Simon Fraser University
Ben Eisen

Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute
Joel Emes

Senior Economist, Fraser Institute
Jock Finlayson

Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute
Jake Fuss

Director, Fiscal Studies, Fraser Institute
Lydia Miljan

Professor of Political Science, University of Windsor
Milagros Palacios

Director, Addington Centre for Measurement, Fraser Institute
Niels Veldhuis

President, Fraser Institute

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