The first Throne Speech of Christy Clark’s tenure as Premier of British Columbia will be delivered today in Victoria, and the Canadian Taxpayers Federation will be on hand to witness the festivities first-hand.

While the Speech is getting very little buzz or build-up in the press, we are keenly interested. Will Clark include legislation for a Municipal Auditor General in the fall session? Many mayors and councillors have been hostile to the idea of a MAG (a key component of the CTF’s Take Back City Hall campaign and the Contract with Taxpayers we are asking candidates to sign) but it is the right thing to do. While we do not usually support added bureaucracy, the oversight, transparency and accountability that will come with a MAG overrides that concern.

We are also hoping for strong, substantial statements on getting BC back in black. The provincial deficit is a gnawing problem that will only be solved by cutting spending. Both Premier Clark and Finance Minister Kevin Falcon have made it clear they want the budget balanced by 2013—now it’s time to see them make actual progress toward that goal.

The Premier’s jobs plan is sure to get a lot of verbiage today, but we suggest a much simpler jobs plan: cut government spending, cut bureaucracy, get rid of corporate welfare and then cut taxes, leaving more money in taxpayers' pockets to spend on goods and services. At $300 million, Premier Clark’s jobs plan may be modest in comparison to some of the other stimulus plans we have seen across Canada and around the world, but even that amount should be strongly scrutinized.

Another element that we will be looking for today: action on releasing MLAs' expenses to the public. We have heard the talk for too long--now these elected officials need to walk the walk.

This Throne Speech is only the second in British Columbia’s history to be prepared by a female Premier. The first came on May 7, 1991, by Social Credit Premier Rita Johnston. Here’s hoping today’s Speech mirrors some of the language in that one:

Although there are worrisome exceptions, most governments in Canada have now recognized the need to reduce government debt to combat high interest rates, inflation and the consequent tax creep that has been hurting the economy of the entire country.

Improved economic performance will require a concerted commitment by all governments to prudent financial management. It will require efficient government operations, the making of difficult decisions when necessary, and holding firm to the critical program priorities that have made us unique in North America.

Governments across Canada are also recognizing the importance of achieving fair but responsible levels of public sector compensation. It is unfortunate that in British Columbia, public sector wage settlements have been consistently running ahead of private sector settlements for the past five years. This has created inequities with employees in the private sector, and it has strained government's limited revenue base.