B.C. politicians will head to work in less than two weeks, the Liberal government says.
The legislature will reconvene June 26 for a short throne speech, said Liberal house leader Mike de Jong.
Newly elected MLAs will start by selecting a new Speaker, after the retirement of Bill Barisoff.
The government will follow up June 27 by reintroducing its February provincial budget, which will have updated financial figures to reflect the first few months of the fiscal year, said de Jong, who is also finance minister.
“We are on target,” de Jong said of the budget, which in February forecast a $197-million surplus. There is “a little bit of pressure” in some revenue streams, though there have been gains in others, he said.
Otherwise, it will be essentially the same budget as in February, de Jong said. “There’s not going to be any surprises.”
The budget will also provide additional information on asset sales involving surplus properties. The list has so far been secret, though de Jong said some asset sales have closed and the prices can be disclosed.
The legislative session, which will end July 25, will be focused entirely on passing the budget and debating ministry estimates, de Jong said.
Premier Christy Clark has said there will be no additional legislation for MLAs to debate in the summer, though she would consider introducing an official apology for the Chinese head tax, if such a move had Opposition NDP support.
