Finance Minister Michael de Jong made the following statement in response to the Real Estate Council of B.C. releasing the Independent Advisory Group’s final report on B.C.’s real estate sector.

With municipal and rural property tax deadlines just around the corner, home owners can look into several provincial programs that may help with some of the financial pressures of home ownership.

British Columbia’s continued fiscal discipline and steady economic growth are providing the means for new and increased funding for services, helping families with the cost of living, and taking new steps to help promote home ownership.

The B.C. economy is expected to continue seeing stable growth in the coming years despite ongoing global volatility according to the independent Economic Forecast Council.

British Columbia’s Second Quarterly Report continues to forecast a surplus in the current fiscal year, another sign that prudent fiscal planning has helped offset the effects of a volatile economic landscape.

British Columbians are invited to share their priorities for the next provincial budget with the release of the 2016 Budget Consultation Paper.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) Board of Governors and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 116 have ratified an agreement negotiated under the Economic Stability Mandate.

B.C. is expected to see stable economic growth over the next two years according to projections released by the independent Economic Forecast Council.