VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released its Finance Minister Report Card today, ranking provincial finance ministers on spending, debt and tax relief in the latest provincial budgets.  

B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey earned an overall grade of D-, coming in at seventh, out of 10 provincial finance ministers. 

“Bailey’s overall performance shows she’s falling short as a finance minister,” said Carson Binda, B.C. Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “Irresponsible debt and big interest payments are eating away at the provincial finances, while the government misled British Columbians by canceling promised tax relief." 

Bailey received the following grades in each category. 

Debt: F

• Bailey plans to increase British Columbia’s provincial debt by more than $23.6 billion this year alone. Every British Columbian will owe the equivalent of more than $27,000 by the end of the year – the fourth highest per capita debt in the country. 

Debt Interest Payments: C- 

• Interest on the provincial debt will cost British Columbians $5.2 billion this year. That works out to $100 million per week or $917 per British Columbian. 

Spending Increase: C

• The B.C. government is spending 6.1 per cent more this year, compared to last year’s budget. Inflation increased by 2 per cent between April 1 2024 and April 1 2025, according to Statistics Canada. 

Tax Relief: D- 

• The budget included no tax relief for British Columbians. The government eventually cut the provincial carbon tax after Ottawa lowered its carbon tax to zero. But the province failed to keep its promised income tax cut that would have saved most families $1,000. 

“British Columbian families and businesses need tax cuts to help make ends meet,” Binda said. “It’s reckless and irresponsible for this government to borrow more money and saddle taxpayers with even more interest costs, so Bailey needs to cut wasteful spending to save taxpayers money.” 

Overall ranking of provincial finance ministers:

You can find the full report card here.