VICTORIA — Here’s what people are saying about the 2026 British Columbia budget, which delivers a tax-rate increase, a record deficit and public sector cuts.

“It’s our time to take a pause on some of the things we want to do, to do the things that we need to do.” — B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey

“(This) budget is an assault on seniors, working families and the small businesses that drive our economy.” — B.C. Conservative Party finance critic Peter Milobar

“It’s become more difficult to understand this government’s priorities beyond LNG, and we have concerns with the lack of transparency and accountability in this years’ service plan. This budget is built on the backs of British Columbians — and it is crushing them.” — BC Green Party finance critic Rob Botterell

“Any cut to front line services, any cut to unionized employees, that provide critical services to British Columbians, is not just going to hurt people that need those services right now, it is also going to hurt the economy.” — BC General Employees’ Union president Paul Finch

“They definitely seemed to manage to piss off everybody.” — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives senior economist Marc Lee

“Despite significant new tax increases, the province’s fiscal situation continues on a perilous trajectory, with an eye-popping $80 billion to be added to the debt over the next three years.” — Bridgitte Anderson, president of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade

“This budget stays the course for public education and provides some consistency. However, we know that kids deserve robust and forward-looking investment in their learning environments.” — BC Teachers’ Federation President Carole Gordon

“The budget lacks a defined strategy to address B.C.’s struggling post-secondary sector — a key piece of economic infrastructure in building a stronger and more diverse economy — amid widespread program cuts and layoffs.” — BC Federation of Labour President Sussanne Skidmore

“It’s going to put pressure on the family caregivers, people who should be in the workforce, who are now caring for that senior. And it’s also going to create a situation where the seniors are not getting the kind of care they should be.” — Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt, referring to delays in care-home construction.

“We’ve got about $4 billion in the budget in tax increases … and that’s really concerning, because the private sector is already very, very weak.” — Business Council of British Columbia vice-president of policy David Williams

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 17, 2026.

Canadian Press Staff, The Canadian Press