B.C. Liberal platform focuses on debt reduction, tax freeze

The B.C. Liberal Party have unveiled an election platform that doesn't contain any big new spending plans or flashy announcements.

Instead,Leader Christy Clark revealed a plan in Vancouver on Monday thatreads more like a continuation of the government's currentplans, with afew tweaks.

Clarkstresses that if the Liberals are re-elected for a fourth term, her government would hold the line on taxes and pay down provincial debt.

Clark also says that contrary to the NDP her governmentwould not expand the carbon tax or institute a capital tax on financial institutions.

Other highlights from the platform include:

• Afive-year freeze on personal income tax, withthe exception of the highest income earners.
• A$250-per-child back-to-school tax credit for parents
• A $500tax credit for teachers who coach.
• Small business tax ratedroppingfrom 2.5 per centto 1.5 per centas of 2017.
• Corporate tax rate willcome down to 10 percentby 2018.

TheLiberals are also promising to train more doctors and increase hospice spaces in the province, expand the B.C. Training Tax credit, open a B.C. film office in L.A. and conduct annual forest industry trade missions to Asia.

The plan also includes putting a new TransLink funding formula to a referendum in conjunction with the 2014 civic election.

But the centrepiece of the platform is debt reduction, and to that end a Liberal government will dedicate half of future surpluses to debt reduction and beef up balanced budget legislation, including penalties for ministers who don't meet their budget targets.

The Liberals also say government spending increases would be capped at a rate of nominal GDP growth.

NDP leader joins MLA'sin Prince George

Polls show Clark's popularity trails far behind New Democratic Party Leader Adrian Dix, who is in Prince George this morning to announce his party's plans to revive B.C.'s forest industry.

Dix, Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald, and two Prince-George-area candidates will be at the University of Northern B.C. for the 9:30 a.m. announcement.

Yesterday, Dix promised an NDP government would ban union and corporate political donationsbecause the money has raised public suspicion about the principals of all parties.

The Liberals have already slammed the proposed donation ban, alleging New Democrats will force taxpayers to fund political parties when individual donations fall short.

The provincial election takes place on May 14, 2013.