British Columbia’s New Democrat government is promising to introduce a long-term economic plan that aims to deliver a “fairer, greener economy” as it begins a new legislative session. Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin read the throne speech in the legislature outlining the government’s agenda as politicians return for a spring sitting expected to continue until June. The government says in its speech that its new economic plan is the result of provincewide consultation with residents who say they want shared economic growth. The speech says the government will work to implement a plan that makes the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples a core principle of every decision it makes. The government says it will create a new ministry to ensure economic activity aligns with environmental objectives and measures will be introduced to ensure minimum wage increases are tied to the rate of inflation. The speech comes two weeks ahead of the government’s budget, which is expected to include a financial accounting of last fall’s floods and mudslides that devastated communities, farms and highways throughout southern B.C.
