Premier Christy Clark is defending the province91裸聊视频檚 ability to eliminate MSP altogether in the coming years.

91裸聊视频淲e are taking step one by cutting it by 50 per cent, step two will be elimination and we will eliminate MSP as the economy grows,91裸聊视频� said Clark when talking budget in Burnaby Tuesday. 91裸聊视频淚 think the MSP is outdated, it91裸聊视频檚 unprogressive, it91裸聊视频檚 unfair and no one else in the country does it.91裸聊视频�

The 50 per cent reduction in MSP rates will take effect Jan. 1, 2018 for families with a net income of up to $120,000. That is expected to save families up to $900 per year and individuals up to $450 per year.

The threshold for paying MSP premiums at all would rise by $2,000, exempting individuals making up to $26,000 a year and families earning up to $35,000.

While there was speculation that the province would lower PST by one per cent instead of cutting MSP, Clark was adamant that cutting medical premiums would provide better savings for middle-class British Columbians.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a much much bigger benefit and it91裸聊视频檚 much more concentrated in the middle class, 91裸聊视频� said Clark. 91裸聊视频淎 PST class benefits everybody but [benefits] the wealthiest the most because the wealthiest spend more money on purchased goods.91裸聊视频�

The premier said the province couldn91裸聊视频檛 afford the extra $1.4 billion it would cost to cut medical premiums entirely and nor, as the NDP have lobbied for, can it afford $10-a-day childcare. Party leader John Horgan has brought forward Quebec91裸聊视频檚 $10-a-day system as an example.

91裸聊视频淭his is a $2.4 billion a day proposal. There is a reason why taxes are over $8,000 more in Quebec than they are in British Columbia,91裸聊视频� said Clark.

Clark stood by her government91裸聊视频檚 decision to raise disability rates rather than addressing B.C.91裸聊视频檚 low welfare rates. At $610 a month, the province has the lowest welfare rates in the country.

91裸聊视频淲hen it comes to social assistance, we are trying to help people move from welfare to work. Welfare is intended to be a temporary program,91裸聊视频� said Clark, citing programs like the Single Parent Employment Initiative in helping get people into education programs and work training. She wouldn91裸聊视频檛 speculate on when the province would consider raising welfare rates.

There were no surprises from Clark on province91裸聊视频檚 stance on prescription opioids.

91裸聊视频淲e are taking advice from experts in the field on this,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚n the event that the experts recommend [prescription opioids] that it91裸聊视频檚 certainly something we would consider.91裸聊视频�