BC Premier David Eby Navigates Deepening Deficits Amid Crisis Response

VICTORIA (Azat TV) – British Columbia Premier David Eby is navigating a period of intense scrutiny, facing questions over his administration’s escalating budget deficits while simultaneously addressing the aftermath of a tragic school shooting in Tumbler Ridge earlier this week. The dual challenges place Eby’s leadership at the forefront of provincial concerns, highlighting a significant shift in fiscal policy since he took office in November 2022.

Reports indicate that the province’s financial outlook has deteriorated considerably under Premier Eby, with deficits projected to take years to recover. This starkly contrasts with the fiscal prudence emphasized by former Premier John Horgan, whose administration had accumulated substantial surpluses and paid down provincial debt. The change in approach has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from observers like Vaughn Palmer, who noted in the Vancouver Sun that Eby was always a ‘big spender’ and promptly abandoned Horgan’s fiscal restraint upon becoming premier.

Fiscal Policy Under Premier Eby

The departure from previous fiscal strategies became evident early in Eby’s tenure. A key moment cited was a cabinet order from February 25, 2022, when then-Premier Horgan removed Eby from the Treasury Board, the cabinet’s budget-making committee. While publicly attributed to lightening Eby’s workload as Attorney General and Housing Minister, private accounts suggested regular clashes between Eby and then-Finance Minister Selina Robinson, who was known for her commitment to fiscal discipline. Horgan himself reportedly believed that Eby’s approach was incompatible with the province’s financial management goals.

Upon assuming the premiership in November 2022, David Eby swiftly reshuffled his cabinet. Selina Robinson, who had delivered a forecast of a $5.7 billion surplus for the financial year ending March 31, 2023, was demoted from finance to post-secondary education. Her replacement, Katrine Conroy, reportedly held the title but saw significant financial decisions centralized in the premier’s office. Under Eby’s direction, the $5.7 billion surplus was largely spent, and the province soon plunged into deficit. Subsequent Finance Minister Brenda Bailey has continued to oversee what critics describe as record-setting deficits, debt, and interest payments.

Eby’s Response to Tumbler Ridge Tragedy

Amid the ongoing fiscal debate, Premier Eby also responded to a devastating school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on February 11, 2026. The incident resulted in ten fatalities, including the suspect. Premier Eby confirmed he had spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and conveyed his profound grief, stating, ‘I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today, and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect their fellow citizens.’

Eby commended the swift response of law enforcement, noting that police were on the scene within two minutes, a factor he believes prevented the tragedy from becoming ‘significantly worse.’ He expressed gratitude for the police’s quick and fearless action and emphasized the strength of Canadians in coming together during a crisis, highlighting ‘our empathy, our unity, and our compassion for each other.’ Officials from the provincial government are in close contact with federal counterparts to ensure comprehensive support for the Tumbler Ridge community, a town of approximately 2,400 people located over 1,000 km north of Vancouver.

Long-Term Financial Outlook for British Columbia

Despite earlier signals from public service head Shannon Salter about the government’s ‘duty to taxpayers’ and the need to ‘rein in spending,’ and Deputy Finance Minister Douglas Scott’s warnings about a ‘systemic deficit,’ the province’s spending continued to escalate. A significant $4 billion top-up to the public sector bargaining mandate last fall further fueled concerns about fiscal responsibility. While the New Democrats have recently returned to a theme of restraint, with Finance Minister Bailey predicting a ‘tough’ budget, the extent of the accumulated debt means that restoring provincial finances to the level seen when Eby took office will require years of concerted effort, according to financial observers.

The current challenges facing Premier David Eby — managing a substantial provincial deficit while leading the response to a profound community tragedy — underscore the multifaceted demands of his office and will likely shape public perception of his administration’s effectiveness in both economic stewardship and crisis leadership.