Canada

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

B.C. NDP Leader Adrian Dix speaks to delegates at the 109th Union of British Columbia Municipalities annual convention at the Victoria Convention Centre in Victoria, B.C., Thursday September 27, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

NDP Leader Adrian Dix says if he's elected premier, he'll consider getting rid of British Columbia's balanced-budget legislation.

Dix said Thursday he doesn't like the Liberal government's budget law, saying it's better to have the goal of balancing the budget rather than having a law that has to be repealed every time the books are inconveniently in the red.

"We've seen over the past four years it's kind of a Monty Python sketch," he said. "You know, we have a balanced-budget law and we never balance the budget.

"We haven't had a balanced budget this term, so I'd rather have a balanced budget than balanced-budget laws."

Dix made his balanced-budget comments to reporters following a speech to municipal politicians at the annual Union of BC. Municipalities convention.

The Liberals brought in their balanced-budget legislation in 2001 and amended it in 2009 to permit two deficit budgets. The government delivered balanced budgets between the fiscal years 2004-2005 and 2008-2009.

Finance Minister Mike de Jong said he's concerned one of Dix's first political promises involves getting rid of a law that seeks to keep the province's finances in line.

"It's troubling," said de Jong.

"Even before being in a position to potentially govern, Mr. Dix and the NDP are saying those rudimentary rules of not spending more than you take in shouldn't apply to an NDP government."