Wildfire Costs, Dropping Revenues, Challenge B.C.'s Budget Surplus: Mike De Jong

The Canadian Press, 15 Sep, 2015 12:48 PM

VICTORIA — British Columbians should expect mixed news when the province's first quarter financial update is released later today.

Finance Minister Mike de Jong predicts wildfire suppression costs will reach about $380-million, once everything is added up.

The minister says the unexpectedly high bill, coupled with a skid in some resource revenues, has put pressure on a balanced bottom line.

However, he says there has been improvement in other areas, so overall, he remains cautiously confident that figures will remain in the black.

In February, the province projected a surplus of $284-million for fiscal 2015/16.

De Jong releases the first quarterly report at 10 a.m., in Victoria.

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