The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services last week released its unanimous report on the Budget 2021 consultation.

The report provides a summary of the concerns and ideas shared by British Columbians, including the committee’s 124 recommendations for the next provincial budget.

“This year, we saw the highest level of participation in nearly 10 years, with British Columbians describing how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in supports and services and impacted groups differently,” said Bob D’Eith, committee chair and Maple Ridge-Mission MLA. “The committee recognizes that the next budget is an opportunity to address these gaps and inequities and to continue to make progress on reconciliation, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.”

Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok, deputy chair, said: “Another central theme that shaped the report is digital connectivity. Committee members heard about the need to address significant gaps with access and affordability as the pandemic accelerated the shift to a digital environment.”

The budget consultation ran from June 1-26, 2020. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all public hearings were conducted by video and teleconference.

The committee heard 281 presentations, received 1,362 written and video submissions and 3,625 responses to an online survey, which was based on questions in the Budget 2021 consultation paper released by the Minister of Finance on June 1, 2020.

“The committee would like to thank all British Columbians who brought forward their views on the challenges and opportunities facing the province as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an impact on all of us,” D’Eith said.

The executive summary of the report points out “inequities related to digital infrastructure are another key issue. As British Columbians shifted to an online environment, the pandemic exposed gaps and barriers related to broadband access and affordability of internet services, especially in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. The committee acknowledges how essential digital connectivity is to individual, social, and economic resiliency, especially in the current environment, and recommends accelerating investments in extending and strengthening digital infrastructure, including addressing challenges related to affordability.

“Committee members also highlight the need to provide urgent recovery funding and multi-year stabilization to several sectors. They recommend health and social services not-for-profit and charitable organizations be provided with emergency support, as well as providing incentives to British Columbians to donate, in acknowledgement of the essential services they provide to British Columbians.

“For the tourism sector, the committee emphasizes the importance of supports being accessible and flexible, and notes opportunities to invest in infrastructure, destination development, and marketing, as well as incent British Columbians to be visitors in their own province. The committee also recommends targeted, multi-year recovery, along with donation incentives, tax breaks and infrastructure investments, for the arts and culture sector which has experienced significant challenges.

“With respect to broader COVID-19 related recovery, the committee recommends continuing to work with the federal government on federal and provincial programs and measures to support British Columbians as well as transitioning emergency funding to provide targeted recovery and financial relief based on need. Committee members also recognize financial challenges related to the pandemic and vulnerabilities in the financing structure for local governments and recommend municipal finance reform. The importance of embedding economic reconciliation in recovery is also highlighted. They additionally identify opportunities to temporarily adjust the employer health tax with a view to supporting businesses during the pandemic.”

Read more about the executive summary and report here.

The full report is available online: www.leg.bc.ca/cmt/finance.

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