Growing public sector a troubling sign for MLA

Photo: Contributed

Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield

In recent years, British Columbians have seen a troubling trend—the rapid expansion of our public sector, particularly within Crown corporations.

Under the current provincial government, over the past seven years, the number of employees in these entities has nearly doubled. It’s crucial to remember that there is only one taxpayer. Every dollar spent by the government is a dollar taken from the pockets of hardworking British Columbians. That money could have gone toward groceries, savings, or investing in a child’s future.

Instead, it’s being used to fund a government that has grown far beyond what is necessary or sustainable.

If the private sector was growing at the same rate, there could be argument that the services were necessary for the growth of the province. But over the last two years, the private sector has only added 5,300 jobs versus 63,800 public sector jobs in that same timeframe.

Why is this an issue? Private sector jobs are directly linked to increasing our province’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while public sector jobs have to be paid from taxes and don’t add to our GDP.

The financial consequences of this unchecked growth are clear. Under the current government, budget overruns have become the norm, leading to a ballooning provincial debt. Today, British Columbians are paying $4 billion a year just to service this debt—money that isn’t being invested in healthcare, education, or infrastructure. Instead, it’s being used to cover the cost of past overspending.

And the situation is only getting worse. In just three years, just the cost of interest on this debt is expected to rise to $6 billion annually.

This trajectory is not just unsustainable; it’s dangerous. The more the government spends, the more it has to take from the people of BC, who are already feeling the pinch of high taxes and rising living costs.

This isn’t about political ideology, it’s just simple math. British Columbians are paying more and getting less in return, and that’s a situation that cannot continue.

B.C. United recently made a clear commitment to balance the budget within its first term in office, if elected in the upcoming October provincial election. This isn’t just about balancing the books—it’s about creating a government that is leaner, more efficient, and more focused on delivering real value to the people of B.C.

It’s about ensuring that essential services like healthcare and education are funded adequately, without burdening future generations with unsustainable debt. British Columbians deserve a government that respects their hard-earned money and understands the importance of fiscal responsibility, before the costs spiral even further out of control and more is taken from those who can least afford it.

My question to you is this:

Do you think that the current provincial government’s deficit spending has improved services, like healthcare and education?

I love hearing from you and read every email. Please email me at [email protected] or call my office at 250-712-3620.

Renee Merrifield is the BC United MLA for Kelowna-Mission.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.