Only 24 per cent of British Columbians believe the budget surplus forecast by the Liberal government is credible, according to a new poll conducted just weeks before the provincial election.
The budget presented in February claimed natural gas royalties and asset sales would provide for a $197 million surplus this fiscal year and another $211 million surplus the next.
But an Angus Reid Public Opinion survey released Thursday found the public much more likely to trust the opposition B.C. NDP, which disputed the good news figures and estimated B.C. actually faces a deficit of $790 million this year and $847 million next.
A full 50 per cent of respondents said they trust the NDP’s position, while the remaining 26 per cent said they’re not sure who to believe.
The poll also suggests British Columbians are split down the middle about whether the province’s economy is in good or bad shape. But the majority, 44 per cent, believe B.C. is doing “about the same” as other provinces either way.
Asked how the province should deal with a budget deficit, 35 per cent said the solution should be to raise taxes, while 45 per cent would want to cut programs.
Thirty-seven per cent said they could stomach the next government running a deficit for a year or two, while 31 per cent said the province shouldn’t run a deficit under any circumstances.
Just 14 per cent said the next government should use deficit spending to stimulate the economy.
The online poll was conducted from April 8 to 9 among 807 randomly selected B.C. adults. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 per cent.
