STUDENTS CELEBRATE CARNAVAL 23 FEBRUARY 26, 2014
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PUCK DROPS FOR PLAYOFF HOCKEY
MINE OPPONENTS HIT OTTAWA 5
MICHELLE BROWN'S WORK ON DISPLAY 25
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Forward Michael Lynch and the 100 Mile House Wranglers continue to make history this week. The local club’s inaugural regular season in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League has come to an end, but a Round 1 playoff matchup with the Chase Heat is underway. Read page 31 for details.
Fee hikes offset by low taxes MLA Donna Barnett backs boring, balanced B.C. budget
Carole Rooney Free Press
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett says the most crucial component in the provincial budget released last week is that it’s balanced. “It’s boring, it’s dull, but it’s balanced. They haven’t cut the health care budget, which is one of the most important budgets there is.” She adds Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Bill Bennett has already achieved his goal of shaving $50 million off of the budget in the core review of government he began last summer.
However, the NDP and some that we have to increase the health industry groups are pointing to fee care premiums ... when you need it, increases, including a four per it’s there, and it’s a blessing cent hike in Medical Services it’s there.” Plan (MSP) premiums next The budget includes year and escalating rates for $2.6 billion on health BC Hydro. sector infrastructure and “Unfortunately, there are an additional $243 milsome user fees that have to be lion over three years for increased,” Barnett explains. Community Living BC, There are more than the MLA adds. DONNA 800,000 citizens who pay lit“The government has BARNETT tle or no MSP premiums, she committed to supporting notes, and for those who do, the four families dealing with developmental per cent increase amounts to about disabilities. That is a very important $5 a month. component.” “With the wonderful health-care She explains there are adults with system we have, I do not feel bad these challenges who are no longer
funded under a youth program, so that gap needed to be filled. Meanwhile, NDP finance critic Mike Farnworth says the government is balancing the budget by using fee increases and appropriating another $480 million from the debt-ridden BC Hydro in 2014. However, Barnett argues the provincial government has taken money from the Crown corporation every year for as long as she can remember. “I don’t think the Opposition has anything to complain about.... I believe they utilized the same process. The money has to come from somewhere.” Continued on 5