B.C. New Democrats say Liberal government hiding $800 million deficit

VANCOUVER – The British Columbia NDP says the Liberal government is hiding an $800 million budget deficit this year in unexplained asset sales and unrealistic growth rates.

NDP finance critic Bruce Ralston says the budget released in February is deliberately trying to mislead voters ahead of the May election.

Ralston says if his party forms the next government, it would likely table a new budget in the fall with a plan to balance the books in four years.

He says the New Democrats will announce spending plans next week along with additional sources of revenue to allow more spending in areas such as social programs and post-secondary education.

Ralston likened the 2013 budget to the financial plan laid out by the Liberals ahead of the 2009 election, which ended up a deficit after the election.