Will COVID-19 usher in era of deficit budgets for B.C.?

On February 18, B.C. Finance Minister Carole James delivered a provincial budget that projected a $227 million surplus for 2020-21 and provincial GDP growth of 2%.

She didn’t even get to pass it in the legislature when, one month later, a state of emergency was declared that locked down much of B.C.’s economy, left thousands suddenly unemployed, suspended the legislative assembly and promised to blow holes in James’ financial plan.