David Eby speaking at Vancouver Board of Trade [Video]

Premier David Eby will take his budget tour on the road today as he sells the highlights to members of Vancouver’s business community with less than nine months before a provincial election.

Eby’s speech to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade comes after yesterday’s tabling of the budget by Finance Minister Katrine Conroy that includes benefits for families and small businesses, but also forecasts a deficit of more than $7.9 billion and rising debt.

Ken Peacock, chief economist of the Business Council of B.C., says the council doesn’t agree with the plan to run large operating deficits when the economy is near full capacity and people are struggling to pay their bills because of inflation.

The Board of Trade says it welcomes the government’s decision to raise the threshold on the Employer Health Tax but it also has concerns about the deficit and debt forecasts.

The budget also includes a …