The B.C. government is seeking approval for another $1 billion in borrowing to match funds from the federal government to keep transit systems and local facilities like libraries and recreation centres running in the coronavirus pandemic.
Premier John Horgan emphasized July 23 that transit is key to getting more people back to work and school in the fall, and he warned that further restrictions are a possibility as education starts up and people spend more time indoors.
Finance Minister Carole James asked the legislature July 22 for authority to spend an additional $1 billion, on top of an unprecedented deficit. Finance officials have estimated the 2020-21 deficit to be $12.5 billion, with other scenarios as high as $15 billion or as low as $10 billion, depending on pandemic conditions and businesses recovering and paying taxes.
James said the new spending authority is based on getting the maximum amount of federal restart funds for transit and municipal services. She announced last week that B.C. was expecting about $2 billion under the Trudeau government91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渟afe restart agreement91裸聊视频� with provinces.
91裸聊视频淲e know how critical transportation is for our economic recovery, and we know the needs that are there, the challenges that Translink, that B.C. Transit have facing,91裸聊视频� James told reporters at the legislature. 91裸聊视频淲e also know municipalities are facing needs as well. So this gives us the ability to be able to hopefully maximize those dollars.91裸聊视频�
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In his weekly session with reporters at the legislature rose garden, Horgan congratulated most B.C. residents for taking care in a reopening economy, and scolded young people shown in widely seen videos of outdoor parties.
91裸聊视频淎fter observing footage from Kelowna, after observing footage of a drum circle in the Lower Mainland, I have to say to British Columbians, 91裸聊视频楥91裸聊视频檓on, you91裸聊视频檙e better than that91裸聊视频�,91裸聊视频� Horgan said. 91裸聊视频淲e made better progress than anywhere in Canada, up until the last couple of weeks. My appeal to you, young and old, be responsible, do your best to stay away from other people.91裸聊视频�
After seeing large gatherings in Kelowna and Vancouver in recent days, I think ASL interpreter Nigel Howard delivers the message best.
91裸聊视频� John Horgan (@jjhorgan)
Horgan91裸聊视频檚 concern follows several days of more than 30 new COVID-19 cases being identified. That91裸聊视频檚 still well below the latest results in Alberta, and far below Washington state, which is recording hundreds of cases a day.
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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