BC Prosperity

Report Card on British Columbia's Elementary Schools 2021

— Sep 27, 2022

The Report Card on British Columbia’s Elementary Schools 2021, which ranks 927 public and independent elementary schools based on 10 academic indicators derived from the provincewide Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA), suggests that every school is capable of improvement regardless of type, location and student characteristics.

Visit our interactive school ranking website

Comparing per-Person Spending and Revenue in Metro Vancouver, 2009–2019

— Aug 11, 2022

Comparing Per Person Spending and Revenue in Metro Vancouver, 2009-2019 is a new study that finds per-person spending has increased across all 17 Metro Vancouver municipalities by 15.2 per cent between 2009 and 2019, after accounting for inflation. Not surprisingly, there is a connection between high spending municipalities and high tax municipalities, as West Vancouver, the highest spending municipality, was also the 2nd highest taxed municipality in 2019, and New Westminster and the City of Vancouver also ranked highly in both spending per person and per person revenues.

Recent BC Prosperity Commentaries and Blog Posts

British Columbians right to worry about secretive rushed approach to Aboriginal title

Mary MacGregor, Jock Finlayson

The legislation will implement an agreement with the Haida Nation to recognize Aboriginal title over the Haida Gwaii archipelago.

B.C.’s credit downgrades reflect government’s spending and debt binge

Tegan Hill, Jake Fuss

Appeared in Business in Vancouver, April 15, 2024

The government plans to overspend by $11.2 billion relative to its 2023 budget plan.

B.C. government maintains high tax rates despite prosperity gap in region

Jake Fuss, Grady Munro

Appeared in the Vancouver Sun, April 10, 2024

The province had the fourth-highest top combined income tax rate among 61 Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions.

Alberta and B.C. budgets represent two different approaches to government finances

Grady Munro, Tegan Hill

According to projections, government debt interest will cost nearly $1,000 per British Columbian by 2026/27.

B.C. government sparks debt explosion with far-reaching consequences

Tegan Hill, Jason Clemens

From 2019-20 to 2024-25, the government increased program spending by more than 50 per cent.

B.C. government accelerates EV transition while consumers and carmakers hit the brakes

Kenneth P. Green

Appeared in True North, March 13, 2024

Automakers are slowing down EV production plans and warning they see slower sales ahead.

B.C.’s day of ‘debt’ reckoning has arrived

Ben Eisen

Appeared in National Newswatch, March 7, 2024

The province forecasts huge deficits in each of the next four fiscal years.

B.C. budget spells disaster for province’s finances

Tegan Hill

Appeared in Business in Vancouver, February 29, 2024

The province's net debt will reach a projected $129 billion by 2026/27—nearly triple the pre-pandemic level in 2019/20.

B.C. government projects massive debt accumulation—and British Columbians will pay the price

Tegan Hill, Jake Fuss

The government plans to overspend by $11.2 billion relative to its 2023 budget plan.

Another big spending budget would drown B.C. government in red ink

Ben Eisen, Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Vancouver Province, February 21, 2024

In 2022/23, the latest year of complete data, inflation-adjusted spending reached a record high of $14,275 per person.

BC Prosperity Research Experts

John Chant

Professor Emeritus of Economics, Simon Fraser University
Ben Eisen

Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute
Joel Emes

Senior Economist, Fraser Institute
Jock Finlayson

Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute
Jake Fuss

Director, Fiscal Studies, Fraser Institute
Lydia Miljan

Professor of Political Science, University of Windsor
Milagros Palacios

Director, Addington Centre for Measurement, Fraser Institute
Niels Veldhuis

President, Fraser Institute

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BC Prosperity

Report Card on British Columbia's Elementary Schools 2021

Comparing per-Person Spending and Revenue in Metro Vancouver, 2009–2019

BC Prosperity Research Experts