Despite the government's rhetoric, BC taxpayers are falling behind other provinces in a number of key areas. The personal income for BC citizens has dropped from third highest in the country to fourth. Government debt has dropped from second lowest in the country to third. CTF's BC director Gregory Thomas says every man, woman and child pays $500 a year for interest on the debt. Higher spending and increasing debt payments resulted in higher medical premiums, higher fees and even higher Hydro bills.