B-C ended its fiscal year with an operating surplus of 1.5 billion dollars despite a softening real estate market that meant less revenue from property transfer taxes. Finance Minister Carole James released the public accounts for 2018-2019 yesterday and she says the surplus was driven by 2.9 billion dollars in increased revenue, largely from taxation. James says she’s not concerned about a 315 million dollar reduction in property transfer tax revenue. She says the previous Liberal government relied on a speculative real estate market while her N-D-P government has a long-term economic plan. But the Opposition Liberals say the N-D-P government’s primary source of revenue continues to be taxpayers’ pockets, while housing starts and construction projects are grinding to a halt.
