British Columbia isa remarkable placefilled with unmatchednatural beauty, hardworking people anda thriving economy.
But a truly prosperous
economy needs towork for everyone.
It needs to create
opportunities for people now, while meeting thechallenges of tomorrow.

BUDGET 2019

We’re working hard to make life better by delivering
improved health care, education and child care foryour family. Budget 2019 puts money back into thepockets of British Columbians and creates opportunities so that every person can reach their fullpotential with the new B.C. Child Opportunity Benefit,
the elimination of interest from B.C. student loans
and MSP premiums, and the largest infrastructure
investment in B.C. history.
Budget 2019 moves forward with CleanBC, putting
our province on the path to a low-carbon economy
that creates opportunities while protecting our clean
air, land and water.
On the road to advancing true and lasting reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, Budget 2019 introduces
a historic 25-year revenue-sharing agreement withFirst Nations, meaning billions of dollars in stable,
long-term funding for First Nations communities.
Budget 2019 works to ensure that everyone has theopportunities they need to succeed. The investments
we’re making will help us build a strong, sustainableeconomy that works for people today, and forgenerations to come.

H O N OUR AB LE C AR O LE JA M E S
M INIS T ER O F FINAN CE AN D D EPU T Y PR EM IER

BU D GE T 2019: M AK I N G LI FE B E T TER|

1

MAKING YOUR LIFE
MORE AFFORDABLE

B.C. CHILD OPPORTUNITY BENEFITEVERY CHILD IN B.C. SHOULD HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO THRIVE.

OUR GOVERNMENT IS PUT TING PEOPLEFIRST AND WE ARE WORKING HARD TO
MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY.

Last year, we began one of the biggest middle-class tax
cuts in B.C.’s history by cutting Medical Services Plan (MSP)
premiums by 50%. This put $450 for individuals and $900
for families back into people’s pockets.
Budget 2019 fully eliminates MSP premiums on January 1,
2020, saving families as much as $1,800 per year.

Budget 2019 introduces the new B.C. Child Opportunity
Benefit to put more dollars back into the pockets of middleclass families. The benefit replaces the Early Childhood Tax
Benefit, providing families with significantly more support forthree times as many years. Starting in October 2020, families
with one child will receive up to $1,600 per year, those withtwo children will receive up to $2,600, and those with threechildren will receive up to $3,400.
CHILD BENEFITS OVER ENTIRE CHILDHOODECTB = Early Childhood Tax Benefit
COB = B.C. Child Opportunity Benefit

2000

768

2001

768

2002

768

CUMULATIVE BENEFIT OVERENTIRE CHILDHOOD ($)

60,000

2003

		

1,152

2004

		

1,152

2005

		

1,152

2006

		

1,152

2007

		

1,152

2008

		

1,152

2009

		

1,152

2010

		

1,224

2011

		

2012

		

1,392

2013

		

1,446

2014

		

1,506

2015

			 1,566

2016

			

2017

			

2018

900

2019

900

30,000FirstChild

20,00010,000

ECTB
COB
50,000

1,308
THE BENEFIT SUPPORTS FAMILIES FOR LONGER
Maximum Annual Benefit for a Family With Only One Child
Current Early Childhood Tax Benefit
New Child Opportunity Benefit
1,800
1,600

1,800

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

80

10
0

12
0

14
0

16
0

18
0

00

0

60

20

0

1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

ANNUAL BENEFIT ($)

1,632

ANNUAL MSP PREMIUMS ($ PER COUPLE)AGE OF CHILD

2

|

ECTB
COB
80,000FAMILY NET INCOME ($)
Calculation assumes each child is born two years apart.

40

0SecondChild

40,000

ECTB
COB
25,000$2.7 BILLION SAVINGS ANNUALLY

050,000

0

20

2020

Third
Child

BU D GE T 2019: M AK I N G LI FE B E T TERMADE-IN-B.C. CHILD CARE PLAN
To care for kids and lift families up, our government has
made the largest investment in child care in B.C.’s history.
Over the next three years, our government is investing morethan $1.3 billion in quality, affordable, accessible child care.

»» Delivering a fee reduction for parents of children inlicensed care of up to $350 per month, $4,200 per year,
for more than 52,000 child care spaces»» Introducing the Affordable Child Care Benefit, whichis available to all families in B.C. earning up to $111,000,
saving them up to $15,000 per year, per child»» Providing $237 million over three years to support thecreation of 22,000 new licensed child care spaces

TOGETHER, THE B.C. CHILD OPPORTUNIT Y
BENEFIT, THE AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE

ELIMINATING INTEREST ON B.C. STUDENT LOANS
British Columbians graduating from post-secondary
institutions are being saddled with too much debt.
Higher education should open doors, not make it harderto get ahead.
TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE AND NEW FAMILIESGET OFF TO A GOOD START IN THEIR LIVES
AND C AREERS, WE ARE ELIMINATINGINTEREST FROM ALL B.C. STUDENT LOANS
AS OF FEBRUARY 19, 2019, HELPING
ANYONE WITH AN OUTSTANDING STUDENT
LOAN TODAY.

For example, someone with $11,200 in provincial loans or$28,000 in combined federal and provincial loan debt willsave approximately $2,300 in interest charges on their B.C.
student loan over a 10-year repayment period.

BENEFIT, AND THE FEE REDUCTION FOR
LICENSED CHILD CARE SPACES WILL PUT UP
TO $20,000 BACK INTO THE POCKETS OF B.C.

BEFORE:FAMILIES WITH ONE CHILD, AND UP TO $28,000$2,300 B.C. student loan interest over 10 years

WITH TWO CHILDREN, EACH YEAR.

SUPPORTING CAREGIVERS

Budget 2019 addresses serious
inequities when it comes tocaring for some of the mostvulnerable people in B.C., fromkids in care to people livingwith disabilities. After years ofneglect, we are investing in careand caregivers to help those whoneed it most to live a better life.

»» Community Living BC homeshare providers will see thefirst increase to their compensation since 2009»» Family-based caregivers looking after children will see
their support payments increase by $179 per monthstarting April 1, 2019, the first increase in a decade»» Extended family, like grandparents and aunties who

support children and keep them out of care, will havetheir support payments increased to match those of
foster parents$2,300AFTER:$0 B.C. student loaninterest over 10 years$0$2,300 in
SAVINGSRAISING ASSISTANCE RATES FOR PEOPLE
WHO NEED SUPPORTOne of the first things we did when we formed
government was to increase income and disability rates.
It was the first meaningful increase to assistance rates
in 10 years and was the first step in helping vulnerable
people build a better life.
BUDGET 2019 INCREASES INCOME AND
DISABILIT Y R ATES BY $50 A MONTH. SINCE
2017, GOVERNMENT HAS INCREASED R ATES
BY $150 PER MONTH, OR $1,800 A YEAR.

BU D GE T 2019: M AK I N G LI FE B E T TER|

3

HOMES FOR B.C.:
PROGRESS REPORTFOR PEOPLE LIVING PAYCHEQUE TO
PAYCHEQUE, AN UNEXPEC TED EXPENSE— LIKE HAVING YOUR C AR BREAK DOWN —C AN STRETCH A FAMILY’S MONTHLY

Over the past year, we have taken significant steps tomoderate B.C.'s housing market and make homes more
affordable for British Columbians. This includes:»» Taxing speculators and vacant homes that are driving
up housing costs; and»» Increasing the foreign buyers tax rate to 20% andexpanding it to areas outside of Metro Vancouver

BUDGET TOO FAR.

If you’re going through a tough time, that shouldn’t resultin your family losing their home. Seven communities in
B.C. currently operate rent banks, which provide shortterm loans with little to no interest to low-income tenants
who can’t pay their rent due to a financial crisis.

Government is providing
funding for rent banks
that will support renters
across the province whoneed an immediate,short-term loan to prevent
unnecessary eviction.

BUILDING NEW AFFORDABLE HOMESAND MODERATING THE MARKETHOMES FOR B.C. L AID OUT AN AMBITIOUS
PL AN TO BUILD 114,000 AFFORDABLE HOMESOVER 10 YEARS.

In just the first year, 17,000 homes are already built or
underway, including:»» 4,900 new affordable, mixed income rental homes»» More than 2,000 new modular homes»» 280 new transition homes for women and children
leaving violence and abuse»» 2,295 new homes for students on campuses»» 1,750 new units of social housing both on and off
reserve for Indigenous peoples

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BU D GE T 2019: M AK I N G LI FE B E T TER

In less than a year, we’realready starting to see results.
For example, over the past six
months, the benchmark price forsingle family homes in Greater
Vancouver has decreased by
8.3%, condo prices are down
6.6%, and townhome prices aredown 6.2%.

GREATER SECURITY FOR RENTERS
Homes For B.C. has increased security for renters by:»» Increasing benefits to low-income working families
by an average of $800 per year, under the Rental
Assistance Program»» Limiting rent increases to the rate of inflation —saving someone paying $1,200 per month in rent
$288 this year»» Closing the fixed-term lease loophole and eliminating
the geographic rent increase clause»» Strengthening protections and compensation for

manufactured home park tenants facing eviction»» Delivering more robust protection for people

threatened by potential renovictions and demovictions

Increasing benefits to seniors
living independently by anaverage of $930 per year, under
the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters(SAFER) program, will increase
security for seniors.

DELIVERING BETTERSERVICES FOR YOUR FAMILYHOSPITALS AND URGENTPRIMARY CARE CENTRES
Budget 2019 invests more than $1.3 billion in total healthspending over three years, which means more doctors andnurses, and shorter wait times for you and your family.

»» From Terrace to Dawson Creek to North Vancouver, weare building, renovating, and expanding hospitals tomeet health care needs today and for future generations»» More funding for the BC Cancer Agency, increasing thenumber of cancer-related surgeries, diagnostic imaging,
expanding PET and CT scans and increased chemotherapy demands»» Supports for the BC Children’s and Women’s hospitals
to provide services for women, children, newborns
and families

MENTAL HEALTH
As part of Budget 2019, we aremoving forward with a $74 million
investment to improve access tomental health care for children
and youth.

»» More Foundry centres for youth 12-24 to bring integrated
services under one roof»» More programs, including in schools, for parents andfamilies to support kids’ early years development»» More specialized family care and day treatment foryoung people that meets their needs

EDUCATION
Budget 2019 invests $2.7 billion to maintain, replace, renovateand expand K-12 facilities over the next three years, including:»» A new, seismically safer school for Burnaby
North Secondary

Since 2018, we added more than
800 hours of MRI operating time
per week and are on track toprovide 37,000 more MRI exams
throughout the province this year
than we did last year.

FAIR PHARMACARE
More than 240,000 B.C. families’ prescription medication
became more affordable this January thanks to an investment of $105 million in the Fair PharmaCare program.
As of January 1, 2019, households earning up to $45,000 in
net income annually are saving between $300 and $600 in
deductibles, making prescription drugs more affordable topeople when they need them.

»» Seismic upgrades for Mountainside Secondary inNorth Vancouver»» A replacement school for Walnut Park Elementary in
Bulkley Valley»» A new Northeast Elementary School in Fort St. John»» An expansion for Royal Bay Secondary in the Sooke
School District»» A new school for South Side Area Elementary-Middle
school in Chilliwack»» A new Lake Country Jr Middle School inCentral Okanagan»» An expansion for Sullivan Heights Secondary in Surrey
WE ARE CREATING 5,500 NEW STUDENT SPACES
THROUGHOUT B.C. TO HELP MOVE KIDS OUT OF
PORTABLES AND INTO CLASSROOMS, ALONG WITH

A new investment of $42 million will
cover more drug options, including
drugs that treat pulmonary arterial
hypertension, diabetes, asthma andeye infections.

NEW OR UPGRADED PLAYGROUNDS AT SCHOOLS.

Budget 2019 delivers over $550 million in additional support
for our public education system. This includes an increased
investment of $58 million for the Classroom Enhancement Fund,
including hiring more than 4,000 new teachers.

BU D GE T 2019: M AK I N G LI FE B E T TER|

5

INVESTING IN A STRONG,SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY
THAT WORKS FOR YOU

Making zero-emission vehicles more accessible also means
having the infrastructure in place to support their use:»» $20 million for new public fast-charging stations andhydrogen fueling stations»» $6 million to support the clean energy vehicle sector, including
CLEANBC
Budget 2019 lays out new funding for CleanBC initiatives
totaling $902 million over three years — making sure that
we can meet our climate commitments and protect ourclean air, land and water.
THIS INCLUDES $41 MILLION OVER THREE YEARS

training programs for automotive technicians and electricians
CleanBC will help B.C. seize new
low-carbon opportunities around theprovince, mobilize our skilled workers,
and reduce climate pollution.

TO MAKE ENERGY-SAVING IMPROVEMENTS MOREACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE FOR ALL BRITISH
COLUMBIANS.

To save families money on their renovation costs, we aresupporting clean energy retrofits for peoples’ homes.
People can receive:»» $2,000 to replace a fossil fuel (oil, propane or naturalgas) heating system with an electric air-source
heat pump»» Up to $1,000 to upgrade their windows and doors tobe better insulated»» Up to $700 toward a higher efficiency natural
gas furnace

We are investing tens of millions of dollars to makezero-emission vehicles more affordable for people in B.C.
This will save people up to $6,000 on their purchase, andapproximately $1,500 per year in gas costs.

We understand tackling climate change isn’t the same inevery community. That’s why we’re investing $15 million thisyear to make sure remote communities are supported as theyswitch to cleaner energy.
WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT
Budget 2018 began with a $72 million investment to support
wildfire resilience and recovery efforts in communities. Budget
2019 provides an additional $111 million over three years tostrengthen B.C.’s efforts to prevent and respond to wildfires, and$13 million for forest restoration in areas damaged by disease
and wildfires.
CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITIESWE ARE BUILDING THE ROADS, HOSPITALS ANDSCHOOLS B.C. NEEDS WITH AN INVESTMENT OF
MORE THAN $20 BILLION IN INFR ASTRUC TURE
IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE,SUPPORTING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS
DURING CONSTRUC TION.

WITH BUDGET 2019,
WE ARE BOOSTING
THE CLIMATE ACTIONTAX CREDIT IN
2019, 2020 AND 2021.
Effective July 1, 2019, the maximum annual
climate action tax credit will be 14% higher
for adults and children, meaning low andmiddle-income families of four will receive:»» Up to $400 starting July 1, 2019, and»» $500 starting July 1, 2021
6|

BU D GE T 2019: M AK I N G LI FE B E T TER

To meet current and future transportation needs and keeppeople moving, we are investing $6.6 billion intransportation projects, including:»» Replacing the Pattullo Bridge»» Building the Broadway subway»» Four-laning Highway 1 through Kicking Horse Canyon»» Replacing the Bruhn Bridge in Sicamous
We’re investing in better public transit with an additional$21 million to expand BC Transit services in 30 communities
across the province.

TRUE AND LASTINGRECONCILIATIONTOGETHER WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES,WE ARE TAKING CONCRETE AC TION TO
SUPPORT HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND BUILD
A BET TER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE IN B.C.

REVENUE SHARING
As part of Budget 2019, B.C. First Nations will now havea stable, long-term source of funding to invest in
self-government, cultural revitalization and services thatmake life better for families.

RESPONSIBLE FISCALMANAGEMENTOver the next three years of the fiscal plan, government willcontinue to run surpluses of $274 million, $287 million, and$585 million in 2019–20, 2020–21, and 2021–22 respectively.
B.C. remains the only province with a AAA credit ratingfrom all three major international rating agencies and ourdebt-to-GDP ratio is at its lowest point since the 2008
financial crisis.
CAREFUL FISCAL MANAGEMENT ALLOWED THE
GOVERNMENT TO ELIMINATE BRITISH COLUMBIA’S
OPERATING DEBT IN Q2 OF THE 2018–19 FISCALThis commitment means approximately $3 billion in sharedprovincial revenue over the next 25 years to support First
Nations communities, including an estimated $300 million
over the next three years.
This historic commitment to advance reconciliation builds
on the other work we are already doing:

YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 40 YEARS.

B.C. IS AN ECONOMIC LEADER IN CANADA
British Columbia’s economy is strong and is projected tolead the country in growth in 2019 and 2020.
FORECAST ANNUAL GROWTH IN 2020 REAL GDP (PER CENT)
3.0

Modernizing the Environmental
Assessment process

2.7
2.4

2.0

Implementing Grand Chief Ed John’srecommendations to help keep
Indigenous children out of care

1.7
1.0

1.5

1.5

Canada: 1.8

1.4
1.1

1.1
0.9

$550 million over 10 years to
support the construction of 1,750
affordable housing units for onand off-reserve$50 million towards the work of
the First Peoples’ Cultural Council
and First Nations communities torevitalize Indigenous languages
A new K-12 curriculum that makes
sure all children in British Columbia
are taught about Indigenous
culture and history

0.6

0.0
BC

AB

SK

ON MB QC PENSC ANADIAN PROVINCES

NB

NL

B.C. has the strongest economy in the country with thehighest projected real GDP growth, lowest unemployment
rate, and biggest wage gains nation-wide. Last year, wages
in British Columbia increased by 4.1%, leading all of Canada.
This is the strongest wage growth in B.C. in a decade.
B.C.’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS THE LOWEST
IN CANADA — FOR THE 17 TH MONTH IN A ROW — AT
4.7% IN JANUARY 2019. PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS HAVE
FUELLED EMPLOYMENT GROWTH IN THE PROVINCE,
WITH AN INCREASE OF 64,800 IN THE PAST YEAR.

BU D GE T 2019: M AK I N G LI FE B E T TER|

7

MAKING LIFE
BETTER FOR YOU

BY 2020, A FAMILY OF FOUR E ARNING $80,000
WILL SAVE ALMOST $2,400 IN TA XES

BUILDING ON GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT
TO AFFORDABILIT Y, BUDGET 2019 PUTS MORE
MONEY BACK INTO FAMILIES’ POCKETS WITH
MA JOR INVESTMENTS IN PROGR AMS AND TA X
CUTS TO MAKE LIFE BET TER FOR WORKINGAND MIDDLE - CL ASS FAMILIES.

A typical family of four earning $70,000 and living
in Metro Vancouver could save as much as $26,675
per year and $8,000 in one time savings, thanks to:

TOTAL TAXES AND PREMIUMS PAID ($)

6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
2016

2017
Update

2018

2019

2020

= Net Provincial Taxes Including B.C. Child Opportunity Benefit= MSP Premiums»» MSP elimination — up to $1,800 per year»» Student loan interest removal — an indi-»» B.C. Child Opportunity Benefit — up to$1,380 per year»» Affordable Child Care Benefit — up to$14,895 per year»» Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative — up to$5,400 per year»» Elimination of Port Mann and Golden Ears
Tolls — up to $1,500 per year»» Electric vehicle savings — up to $6,000

when purchasing an electric vehicle andapproximately $1,500 per year in gas costs»» Heat pump savings — up to $2,000 to
replace a fossil fuel heating system

BY 2020, A FAMILY OF FOUR E ARNING $60,000
WILL SAVE ALMOST $2,500 IN TA XES
6,000
TOTAL TAXES AND PREMIUMS PAID ($)

vidual with $10,000 in provincial loans saves
approximately $200 per year in interest
charges after graduation

5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
2016

2017
Update20182019= Net Provincial Taxes Including B.C.Child Opportunity Benefit= MSP Premiums

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Budget 2019 Details: www.bcbudget.ca
Ministry of Finance: www.gov.bc.ca/fin

BY 2020, TOTAL SAVINGS OF UP TO:»» $26,675 per year, and»» 8,000 in one-time savings
8|

BU D GE T 2019: M AK I N G LI FE B E T TER

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