As British Columbia grapples with a deteriorating fiscal position, the provincial government is asking ministries to review their programs to ensure they “remain relevant, are efficient, grow the economy, and help keep costs low for British Columbians,” as outlined in all the ministries’ mandate letters.
It’s the right instinct. It’s also welcome news for all British Columbians that, at a time of economic uncertainty, the province is acknowledging the need for a spending review. For this desire to translate into real savings for British Columbians, though, it should look to one of Canada’s most successful reforms: the 1994-96 Program Review led by then-finance minister Paul Martin.
In the mid-90s,
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