B.C.’s Eby says he would cut deficit by growing economy, cut wasteful spending

VANCOUVER — British Columbia NDP Leader David Eby says his government would bring down the multibillion-dollar deficit year-over-year if elected by growing the economy and cutting what he called wasteful spending.

He made the pledge while campaigning in Prince Rupert, B.C., where he announced that government would double the export of critical minerals and expand the local port to make it the second largest harbour in Canada by 2030.

Eby’s announcement comes a day after B.C. Conservative interim leader Lorne Doerkson promised his party would not introduce new taxes or raise existing ones.

The province faces a projected deficit of $13.8 billion and Doerkson says Conservatives would trim that by growing the economy, if they win the snap election on Oct. 24.