More than 50 people were on hand to listen to Kootenay East MLA and Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister for Core Review Bill Bennett Feb. 27, during a Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce hosted breakfast gathering.

Bennett’s hour-long address and question session at the Heritage Inn focused on B.C.’s recently tabled budget, a third straight balanced budget that sets a new recent standard for Canadian provinces.

The province’s “exceptional” debt equity ratio and continued AAA credit rating mean B.C. remains ahead of the rest of the country and is in good footing moving forward, he said, pointing out that the swing away from relying on doing business with the U.S.A. to capturing larger pieces of the Asian markets is keeping the province competitive and likely in a safer position should the American economy continue to flag.
Bennett also noted during his talk that he is working on the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure to provide funding for secondary roads in the Kootenay East.

While Highway 3 has been substantially improved in recent years, including a number of new bridges and an overpass, secondary roads in the region need work, Bennett said, adding he is doing what he can to inspire the minister to free up funds.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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