Opposition Leader Adrian Dix draws battle lines at municipal convention

VICTORIA – NDP Leader Adrian Dix says if he’s elected premier, he’ll consider getting rid of British Columbia’s balanced budget legislation.

Dix says he doesn’t like the Liberal government’s budget law , saying it’s better to have the goal of balancing the budget rather than having a law that has to be repealed every time the books are inconveniently in the red.

The Liberals brought in their balanced budget legislation in 2001 and amended it in 2009.

Dix was speaking to the Union of B.C. Municipalities gathering and delivered a partisan speech, beginning with a jab at the Liberals for not holding a fall session.

He drew applause from municipal leaders for saying they deserve more control over location and development of mountain resorts and over whether to accept public-private partnerships in their communities.

He also told the packed room that British Columbia should have more say on the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline project, but rapped what he called the government’s late interest in the mega-project.