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Finance Minister Mike de Jong says lack of job growth in the past two years is disappointing, but government is continuing its emphasis on natural gas and trade. Tom Fletcher/Black Press
VICTORIA – Finance Minister Mike de Jong unveiled B.C.’s second straight surplus budget Tuesday, with few spending and tax changes as the province plans for economic growth driven by natural gas exports.
The biggest tax change is that provincial tobacco tax goes up 32 cents a pack April 1, on top of the latest federal increase of 40 cents a pack. B.C.’s share is expected to generate another $50 million, and de Jong said a “significant portion” of that will be used to develop smoking prevention efforts in partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society.