Report card · Fall 2026
British Columbia
Fiscal year 2025-26. The short version first, then every figure behind it, from the government's audited public accounts.
The short version
In 2025-26, British Columbia spent $94.6 billion, about $16,543 for every resident. That was almost exactly what it had planned.
It ended the year with a deficit of $7.7 billion, better than the deficit of $10.9 billion it had planned.
Its independent auditor (Auditor General of British Columbia) signed off with a reservation, called a “qualified” opinion. Details below.
The audited results came out 132 days after the year ended.
What it means per person
British Columbia's totals divided by its population of 5,716,602 on October 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada). This is not a tax bill: every Canadian pays for federal and provincial or territorial government at the same time, and some of this money comes from other governments.
- Spent $16,543 per resident, on services, programs and transfers
- Collected $15,196 per resident, in taxes, transfers and other revenue
- Paid in interest $857 per resident, about 6¢ of every revenue dollar
- Net debt $17,920 per resident, what it owes, less its financial assets
Where every dollar went
Of every dollar British Columbia spent in 2025-26, as the government groups its spending.
- 43¢ Health
- 21¢ Education
- 11¢ Social services
- 6¢ Natural resources and economic development
- 5¢ Interest
- 14¢ Everything else
What went off plan
The areas furthest from their budget, in dollars. Going over isn't automatically bad (an emergency or a program added during the year can be the reason), and coming in under can mean delayed work.
Over budget
- General government +$1.1 billion (55.2%)
- Health +$1.1 billion (2.9%)
- Natural resources and economic development +$707 million (15.5%)
Under budget
- Other −$3.4 billion (−45.8%)
- Social services −$556 million (−4.9%)
Context from the documents
- The Auditor General issued a qualified opinion, finding that B.C.'s accounting for certain funding received from other governments and outside sources departs from Canadian public sector accounting standards, and has since 2012. As a result, the province's deficit and accumulated deficit are overstated, not understated: by $10.76 billion cumulatively as of March 31, 2026.
- The Auditor General also found that the notes leave out an estimated $7,068 million of contractual obligations that the standards require to be disclosed.
Questions worth asking
Based only on the figures above. Put them to your MLA, MP or candidates, or to the finance department.
- General government cost $1.1 billion more than budgeted (55.2% over). What was the reason?
- The auditor qualified its opinion on the accounts. Has the government changed the accounting the auditor objected to?
- Interest on debt took about 5.5 cents of every dollar of revenue. What is the plan for the debt over the next few years?
Every figure behind this page, exactly as published, with the page it came from.
We extracted these figures from a PDF: Public Accounts for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2026 (Province of British Columbia), complete volume incl. consolidated Summary Financial Statements. They are shown exactly as published, in millions of dollars, with the page each one came from. Check them against the official document .
The year in figures
Actual results against the budget printed in the same audited statements. Amounts in millions of dollars. Debt and accumulated balances are shown as positive amounts; the label says which they are.
| Item | Actual | Budget | Difference | Where we found it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue | 86,871 | 84,003 | +2,868 +3.4% | Actual: PDF page 44 (printed 42) Budget: PDF page 44 (printed 42) |
| Total expenses | 94,571 | 94,915 | −344 −0.4% | Actual: PDF page 44 (printed 42) Budget: PDF page 44 (printed 42) |
| Annual surplus (deficit) | −7,700 | −10,912 | +3,212 | Actual: PDF page 44 (printed 42) Budget: PDF page 44 (printed 42) |
| Net liabilities | 102,440 | 111,748 | −9,308 −8.3% | Actual: PDF page 43 (printed 41) Budget: Budget and Fiscal Plan 2025/26 - 2027/28 (BC Budget 2025) (PDF), PDF page 164 (printed 154), Table A15 |
| Accumulated deficit | 17,122 | 21,668 | −4,546 −21.0% | Actual: PDF page 43 (printed 41) Budget: Budget and Fiscal Plan 2025/26 - 2027/28 (BC Budget 2025) (PDF), PDF page 164 (printed 154), Table A15 |
| Interest on debt | 4,898 | 5,060 | −162 −3.2% | Actual: PDF page 44 (printed 42) Budget: PDF page 44 (printed 42) |
Spending by area
Expenses by sector or function, as the government groups them, in millions of dollars. The thin line marks the budget.
Audit and release
- Auditor
- Auditor General of British Columbia
- Opinion
- Qualified
- Audited results released
- August 10, 2026
- Days after year end
- 132
Source documents
We link to the official documents rather than republishing them. We kept a copy of each, as downloaded, so these figures can be re-checked even if a link changes.
Right of reply
No response from British Columbia has been published yet.
British Columbia can respond to this section. We confirm every response by phone before publishing it, then publish it here in full, unedited. If you find an error, tell us through the contact form on our About page. Corrections are noted on the page; figures are never changed silently.
Respond on behalf of British Columbia
Figures collected and checked November 6, 2026.
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