Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson faces time crunch to get tax cuts done in first 100 days

Lorne Doerkson, the B.C. Conservative premier-designate, has promised a large income tax cut as his first legislative priority, but he has a short window to deliver it. Doerkson said Sunday at his first news conference since the election that he will need to appoint cabinet, make changes in the public service and get legislation drafted before the government can table anything. He has floated a possible fall legislative session, though insiders disagree on whether that is realistic.

The proposed change would raise the basic personal exemption to $32,000. Doerkson also said that on Day 1 his government will launch an independent review of the province's finances. "The deficit, as you know, is nearly $14 billion, and B.C. has had eight credit downgrades in three years," he said. Before tabling a budget, he said the full financial picture will be provided. Within the first 100 days, he has committed to an expert health commission on keeping emergency rooms open and cutting wait times. Repeal of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act has been deferred to spring.

Christy Clark, the former B.C. Liberal premier who was involved in the Conservative campaign, said she expects a fall sitting. "I think they'll do a fall sitting because they want to demonstrate the urgency, they want to respond to the sense of urgency in terms of fixing the economy," she said. A Conservative strategist told Postmedia News the timing is tight: "By the time the votes get certified, and everything else, you're in mid-November. Are you really going to give someone a portfolio and expect them to learn it?" The same strategist said the tax cut could be included in a February budget and made retroactive to the current tax year.

Jock Finlayson, chief economist at the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, said the new government faces big challenges in meeting its economic goals. "The first is dealing with the unprecedented fiscal mess left behind by David Eby," he said, adding that "the province will be operating with tight fiscal limits in place for the rest of the decade." He also said the business community expects quick action