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B.C. BUDGET: Top 10 things to know

The 2017/18 B.C. budget bring cuts to MSP premiums, a proposed PST break for business, and increases in public education funding.
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B.C. Finance Minister Mike de Jong announced the 2017 provincial budget Tuesday in Victoria.

Here's a look at the highlights from the B.C. budget announced Tuesday by Finance Minister Mike de Jong:

1. MSP premium cut: Savings of up to $900 a year for families paying the maximum premium. See more >

2. Education: $740 million over three years for K-12 schools. See more >

3. PST proposed to be taken off business electricity bills. See more >

4. Housing: First-time buyers exemption from transfer tax rises to $500,000. See more >

5. Growth: A forecast of 2.1 per cent economic growth, slightly less than average of advisors.

6. Business tax cut: Small business corporate income tax drops from 2.5 to 2.0 per cent, becoming the second lowest in the country.

7. Disability assistance rate increase, of $50 a month for more than 100,000 people, worth $199 million.

8. B.C. student loan interest cut down to prime rate.

9. Ministry of children and families receives $287 million -- nearly half of which will help aboriginal children.

10. Dark clouds: Finance minister warns strong B.C. exports right now could be “a blip” depending on protectionism of U.S. President Donald Trump.



About the Author: Ashley Wadhwani-Smith

I began my journalistic journey at Black Press Media as a community reporter in my hometown of Maple Ridge, B.C.
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