The B.C. government's all-party finance committee wants the Liberals to stay on course when it comes to keeping their promise to balance the budget next year.
The six Liberals and four New Democrats on the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government say the balanced-budget promise is among the top priorities of the report's 29 recommendations. The committee held 19 public hearings across B.C. this fall and received more than 800 submissions and will submit its report to the Finance Ministry to help prepare the February budget.
The committee's chairman, Liberal Douglas Horne, says the committee unanimously supports the goal of balancing the budget, while suggesting ways to improve economic competitiveness for when the province returns to the provincial sales tax system after rejecting the HST.
The committee's recommendations include working with industry and schools and colleges to train more skilled workers, ensuring the carbon tax undergoes a complete and thorough review and looking for opportunities to streamline the administration of the PST.
The committee's report serves as a suggestion list to the Finance Ministry, with the recommendations reflecting the suggestions from a cross-section of British Columbians.
