Yesterday’s B.C. Budget update included a few minor changes to provincial debt levels. There was both good news and bad news.

First, the good news. With the 2012-13 bills rolling in, we aren’t in quite as much debt as we thought – for the moment. Based on the February 2013 budget, our B.C. Debt Clock calculated the provincial debt to be $57.6 billion yesterday. But the new documents put us ahead of that mark, at $57.4 billion.

Before we plan a parade down the streets of Victoria, hoisting the Premier and Finance Minister on our shoulders, there was also a lot of bad news.

Long-term, the debt will be higher than originally thought. On March 31, 2016, it’s expected to be $69.76 billion, higher than the $69.4 billion originally budgeted in February.

Our debt today is also growing faster than previously thought, based on these new numbers.

Originally, the B.C. Debt Clock grew by $209 per second. With these new numbers, it’s $214 per second.

That works out to $12,854 per minute, $771,233 per hour, and $18.5 million per day.

Debt-free B.C.? Not yet… not even close.