People & Planet First” Budget

 “People & Planet First” Budget

1️⃣ Housing — $30 B

• Tiny houses, co-ops, community housing projects for all who need it.
• Retrofit existing buildings for energy efficiency and safety.
• Include plumbing, water access, shared kitchens/gardens.
• Fund training programs so people can build/maintain their own homes.

2️⃣ Food & Gardens — $15 B

• Support community gardens, urban farms, and school gardens.
• Subsidize local farmers to supply fresh, organic produce.
• Provide grocery grants for low-income families, replacing the cancelled $1,000 rebate.
• Fund food preservation workshops (canning, fermentation, seed saving).

3️⃣ Health & Arts — $10 B

• Expand community arts programs as preventive mental health.
• Fund mental health clinics, outdoor therapy programs, creative workshops.
• Include arts in hospitals, long-term care, and youth programs.

4️⃣ Transportation — $7 B

• Bicycle infrastructure: lanes, racks, secure parking.
• Encourage walking-friendly streets and safe school routes.
• Fund bike-share programs, but no electric bikes for mass adoption, just maintain classic bikes.

5️⃣ Renewable Energy & Community Tech — $10 B

• Panels, wind turbines, microgrids donated to communities, schools, and non-profits.
• Fund community-run energy co-ops for resilience.
• Avoid luxury EVs and Teslas for mass funding — let people decide if they want them personally.

6️⃣ Education & Skills — $5 B

• Practical skills programs: construction, gardening, arts, bike repair, water management.
• Make community colleges and trade schools free or highly subsidized.
• Include permaculture and regenerative living programs.

7️⃣ Contingency & Governance — $7 B

• Emergency fund for natural disasters, housing crises, food insecurity.
• Support transparent, community-led governance on project allocation.
• Keep audit and accountability teams to ensure money goes where it’s needed.

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✅ Principles

• Human-scale first: people before towers or megaprojects.
• Regenerative economy: gardening, local food, clean energy, bikes.
• Health & creativity as basic needs: arts, mental health, community.
• No corporate-first “look west” projects: the private sector invests when it serves communities sustainably.
• Don’t force technology — provide it where it helps, don’t mandate luxury or wasteful tech.

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If we do this, BC would be:

• Healthy, fed, and creatively thriving.
• Less reliant on destructive mining and fossil-fueled infrastructure.
• Mobile with simple, human-powered transport.
• Resilient through local energy systems and food systems.