By Ian Holmes

Nanaimo MLA and Finance Minister spar over budget

Feb 22, 2017 | 1:52 PM

NANAIMO —B.C.’s finance minister is challenging a comment from Nanaimo NDP MLA Leonard Krog, who argued that the newly announced B.C. budget doesn’t help level the playing field between high and low-income earners.

“The fundamental problem with this budget is that it doesn’t address the growing gap between the rich and the poor,” Krog said.

Krog said while the government brags about having the strongest economy in Canada, low income British Columbians in particular are struggling due to several cost pressures, such as rising ICBC and BC Hydro rates, more expensive housing and a childcare affordability crisis.

Finance minister Mike de Jong told NanaimoNewsNOW that Medical Services Plan (MSP) premium cuts will make a big difference financially for many families, adding that he doesn’t understand the timing of Krog’s comment about a widening gap between the rich and poor.

“It’s an odd comment on a day when we very clearly did differentiate between higher income families and the middle class whom we are trying to provide some assistance and relief to,” de Jong said.

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De Jong promises to eliminate MSP premiums, starting with a 50 per cent cut next year for families earning less than $120,000 a year, which he said will see a family paying the full premium saving up to $900 a year.

De Jong is scheduled to talk about the budget at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre Thursday morning at a breakfast hosted by the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce.

The Nanaimo Chamber released a statement endorsing the budget.

Ian.Holmes@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @reporterholmes