Families and middle-income earners will be the hardest hit over the next few years as government struggles to reign in its growing deficit.

With the B.C. Liberals vowing to balance the budget by 2013-14, last week's budget paves the way for cuts to be made in every sector of the government.

“We hear that the NDP and the B.C. Federation of Labour says we are not spending enough and the Fraser Institute says we are spending too much,” says Kamloops- North Thompson MLA Terry Lake.

“So I figure we must have gotten something right.”

The most significant cuts for the Nicola- Cariboo region will be to the forest ministry with $200 million being shaved off of its $1 billion budget this year alone.

Forestry has always been important for B.C. governments but with provincial revenues waning from this troubled industry the Liberals have found it prudent to make significant cuts and direct revenue to other areas such as programs for families, youth, environment and the arts.

“Our forest revenues right now are 36 per cent of what they have traditionally been,” says Lake.

“We are seeing only a 6 per cent reduction in the ministries budget.”

Other ministries that have been zeroed in on are agriculture, community development, energy, transportation and the environment.

“Everyone in theory is in favour of streamlining,” says Bruce Ralston, NDP opposition critic for finance.

“But people still expect real scrutiny and real environmental protection.”

Health care will receive a 4.3 per cent increase for all regions but is actually a lower increase than health authorities received this year and this still resulted in cancelled surgeries and reduced care.

The education budget has also received an increase of 2.8 per cent, ostensibly to cover the implementation of all day kindergarten throughout the province.

Yet school districts from across B.C. have said they are already grappling with $240 million in shortfalls, so the increase may not be enough to pay for the kindergarten program and target areas that were already suffering.

“All the costs associated with all day kindergarten will be covered by the ministry,” says Lake.

About 4000 jobs are expected to be lost to the government's consolidation of ministries.

“ For smaller towns like Merritt, the impact of the loss of government jobs is proportionately greater than it is in the lower mainland,” says Ralston.

No tax increases were announced but the government is planning to raise the carbon tax and implement the HST in July.

Taxpayers can also expect to pay more for B.C. Hydro, medical premiums and the government will be draining over $778 million from ICBC over the next 3 years instead of lowering the rates for safe drivers.