A second-term David Eby BC NDP government is “marginally better” than the alternative that appeared to be in the cards on election night, business leaders said last week.
In an open letter to the new government, seven business associations—including the BC Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of British Columbia and Greater Vancouver Board of Trade—urged the new government to take B.C.’s flagging economic health seriously, and get its fiscal house in order. “I am almost certain our credit rating will be downgraded, again, in early 2025. The risk is that this could trigger a pattern of serial downgrades by the leading credit-rating firms, resulting in a significantly bigger debt-servicing cost going forward.”
“The aborted overhaul of the Land Act attempted in early 2024 was a fiasco that caused uncertainty and sparked conflict,” he said. “An open, deliberative approach to advancing reconciliation in the context of the management of Crown lands and resources is needed.”