Premier Christy Clark says she expects B.C. will be one of only two provinces in Canada to table a balanced budget for the coming year.

“We’re in a unique position because, with perhaps Saskatchewan, we will be one of two provinces that balances our budget this year,” she said

Drastic declines in world oil prices in recent months have delivered sharp kicks to the bottom-line forecasts of many governments, including in Alberta and Ottawa, but B.C. is in a position to weather the stormy period, the premier said.

 

The province tabled a balanced budget in 2014. In November, Finance Minister Mike de Jong upgraded the government’s budget surplus to a forecast $444 million from the original estimate of $184 million last February.

In comparison the federal government has delayed presenting its budget until April because of falling oil prices.

Clark said along with balancing the budget, the province’s economic diversity will be the focus of the upcoming legislative session, which is set to start Feb. 10 with the throne speech.