B.C. premier-designate Lorne Doerkson said on Sunday that when his government is sworn in, “it will be ready on day one, and it will hit the ground running.”
He did not rule out a fall session.
Doerkson said that on day one, the government will launch an independent review of the province’s finances, saying: “Before we table a budget, you will have the full picture.”
He said that within the first 100 days, the government will stand up the expert commission on keeping emergency rooms open and cutting wait times.
Doerkson said his priority will be introducing a bill to raise the personal income tax exemption to $32,000, which will put $1,000 back in the pocket of nearly every working British Columbian.
He reiterated that the government will not raise taxes or make deep cuts to essential services to fund its plans. “When I make a promise to British Columbians, I will keep it,” he said.
Doerkson said: “If DRIPA [the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act] had the opportunity to solve the problems in this province, we wouldn’t be in court. Legislation that forces two parties together does not seem very beneficial to anybody.
“In my mind, I am absolutely committed to this. And I mean it when I say that. I will take a meeting with First Nations any day that we can grow a partnership and a friendship together.”
Doerkson said: “We are going to supercharge this economy, and that means getting projects to … building out LNG, and getting our energy to new markets in Asia, and making British Columbia the most attractive place in the world to invest.”
