JUNO NOMINEE | Vernon hip hop artist SonReal receives first Juno nod for The Closers [A12]
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Divisions erupt over B.C. budget
Spring StepS
income tax rate will climb by one per cent to 11 per cent B.C.’s financial plan has gener- April 1, 2013 and there will be a two-year, 2.1 per cent hike to ated significant debate. Liberal Finance Minister the personal tax rate for anyone Michael de Jong released his earning more than $150,000. “In order to balance the budproposed 2013 budget in the get you either cut services or Legislature Tuesday. “We wanted to balance the you raise revenue,” said Foster, budget and we balanced the bud- adding that the corporate tax get,” said Eric Foster, Vernon- rate was always supposed to increase but the timeline has Monashee MLA. been pushed ahead by “We’re not giving a year. a whole lot of money The budget calls away. It’s not a typical for Ministry of Health pre-election budget funding to climb at an but it’s an example of a annual average of 2.6 good fiscal budget.” per cent, but Olsen Much of the plan isn’t convinced that’s hinges on resource enough to meet curdevelopment revenue, rent needs. and Foster says he is Jeet Dukhia “It doesn’t help confident with the us much at Vernon numbers. “We have gone with the low- Jubilee Hospital because everyest forecast. We are being very one (across the province) wants prudent on the prediction of a piece of the pie,” he said. Medical Services Plan preincome,” he said. Mark Olsen, NDP candidate, miums are going up four per is concerned B.C.’s ability to cent in January, 2014. “We have to have income to provide critical services could be hampered if revenue fore- go towards health care,” said casts from natural resources fall Foster. Okanagan orchardists had short. “They are placing all of their anticipated government support for replanting trees, marketing eggs in one basket,” he said. Scott A n d e r s o n , fruit overseas and addressing Conservative candidate, says health and safety concerns. “We are disappointed,” said there should be carefully regulated development of natural Jeet Dukhia, B.C. Fruit Growers Association president. resources. “I am going to have a meet“Creating high-skill, highpay jobs is the only way we’ll ing with the agriculture miniskeep our young people at ter and see if there is something on the side for us.” home,” he said. The proposed budget proAnderson believes de Jong’s proposal penalizes businesses vides an additional $4 million over three years for increased and citizens. “This budget strikes me as oversight of the Agricultural stealing the NDP’s draconian Land Reserve. There is also $20 million tax regime — higher taxes on both individuals and businesses over three years for carbon tax at a time when companies are relief to help offset carbon tax folding and families are leaving costs for commercial greenhouse vegetable and flower B.C.,” he said. The general corporate growers in B.C. RICHARD ROLKE
Morning Star Staff
NATALIA VIGNOLA/ MORNING STAR
Rebecca Huss and Kinnidy West, both five, put a little spring in their step as they hit the trails at a run during a family outing Sunday at Kal Park.
Games garner legacy funds Hosting athletes from across the province will have a lasting impact on the North Okanagan. Organizers of the 2012 Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games will announce Friday the recipients of $117,000 in legacy funds. “We are looking at sports, cultural and community organizations and their needs,” said Akbal Akbal Mund Mund, who chaired the Games committee. “Ninety-five per cent of the people who asked for something will be receiving something. Some money
will go to the sports involved in the Games.” While not getting into specifics, Mund says the goal of the legacy funds is to provide Greater Vernon with the ability to draw major events well into the future. “We’re talking about what can we do 25 to 30 years ahead.” The legacy funds were generated by souvenir sales leading up to the 2012 Games and the organizing committee keeping a firm grip on its budget. One aspect that helped the committee keep expenses down, was local businesses providing in-kind services valued at $350,000. “It was a collaboration of the community,” said Mund. The recipients of the legacy funds will be revealed at a ceremony at the VantageOne Centre Friday at 7 p.m.
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