NANAIMO: Canadian Taxpayers Federation BC director Carson Binda has accused David Eby and the BC NDP of failing British Columbians via excess spending and a bloated bureaucracy.
Speaking at the BC Conservative annual general meeting, he urged those in attendance to stand up against the government and fight for more fiscal responsibility.
"If we as British Columbians are being buried by government debt, we're being crushed by the interest charges on that debt," Binda said. "Bigger debt today means even bigger interest payments tomorrow."
He explained that over the last year alone, debt interest has cost British Columbian taxpayers $4.3 billion, or roughly $800 for every man, woman, and child.
"Over the next three budget cycles, British Columbians are expected to spend over $15 billion on provincial debt interest charges," he warned. "That's as much money as the province is collecting on personal income taxes this year. That money is going straight from your paycheques to the big banks that own BC's debt."
Binda noted that the money spent on debt annually is enough to build 150 new schools with space for 98,000 students, or hire 75,000 new teachers.
He went on to explain that as if debt and interest weren't enough, it was going towards a "massive bureaucracy that we don't need and can't afford." Since 2021, the number of bureaucrats has risen from 38,914 to 47,156, and that doesn't even include those working in universities, schools, civic governments, and crown corporations.
"A smaller, more effective bureaucracy means more money in your pockets and less red tape bogging down your business," he continued. "All of this is not just unsustainable for our province; it's unacceptable."
Binda laid out a three-part plan to bring BC back on the "path to prosperity" which included "lower taxes, less wasteful spending, and more accountable government."
While discussing the second of those three things, he drew attention to BC's taxpayer-funded Knowledge Network, accusing the network of being biased against conservatives.
"I think a right-wing conservative agenda should stop taxpayers paying for government propaganda," he said. "Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have all ditched the dead weight of a state broadcaster, and BC must, too."
