B.C. Conservatives Platform Projects Deficit Drop to $10.8 Billion by 2029

The B.C. Conservative Party released a fully costed platform on Sunday afternoon. It projects the deficit will fall from $13.7 billion this year to $10.8 billion by 2029.

The platform assumes economic growth of 2.5 per cent this year, 2.8 per cent next year, and 3.2 per cent in 2029. These levels far exceed most current economic forecasts.

“There is a lot of rhetoric about what's going to happen, that's going to lead to growth, but it's not a plan for how we're going to get more growth.”

Ross Hickey, an associate professor at UBC Okanagan, says this growth is unlikely. He forecasts one per cent GDP growth per year for the next three years.

The Bank of Canada projects national GDP growth at 0.7 per cent this year and 1.8 per cent for the next two years. The Royal Bank of Canada projects B.C. growth at 0.8 per cent this year and 1.5 per cent next year.

Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson says his party will achieve higher growth by "supercharging" the economy. He claims the plan is completely achievable.

B.C. NDP candidate Adrian Dix challenged the Conservative Party's math. Doerkson has not explained how ending Clean BC or reducing permitting times will create the promised growth surge.