Delta South independent MLA Vicki Huntington re-introduced a bill last week that would move B.C.'s fixed election date to the fall to allow time to scrutinize the government's budget prior to voting.
Every election year, B.C.'s budget cycle is interrupted by the election, she said. The bill would move the fixed election date to October to avoid this conflict.
"We continue to have a sham budgeting process in the lead-up to the election. An election year is precisely the time the public needs to know that the numbers add up,"
Huntington said. "Instead, we enter elections with the perception that the government's untested political promises are based on fiscal fantasy.
"The next election year will see yet another budget that will not pass because there isn't sufficient time to go through it," said Huntington. "And the auditor general will not be able to report on the government's accounting before people go to the polls."
Moving the election to the fall would be a simple change with a profound effect on governance and political accountability, Huntington said.
"As it stands, election-year budgets in this province aren't worth the paper they're printed on."
