[
  {
    "fiscal_year": "2022–23 (graphic says only “2022”)",
    "graphic_claim": "$5.7 billion surplus",
    "finding": "An old forecast—not the year-end result",
    "current_value_millions": 956,
    "status": "Restated actual surplus in September 2026 historical series",
    "explanation": "The November 25, 2022 second-quarter report forecast a $5.732-billion surplus for 2022–23. The original Public Accounts subsequently reported a $704-million surplus. The latest quarterly historical series restates that actual to $956 million under current accounting policies. Neither actual figure is $5.7 billion; the graphic also obscures the fiscal period.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/quarterly-reports/2022-23-q2-report.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.3 / PDF p.7, Table 1.1, Surplus (Deficit), Second Quarterly Report column"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/public-accounts/2022-23/public-accounts-2022-23.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.11 / PDF p.13, Budget and Actual Results 2022/23: original $704m actual; published Aug 30, 2023"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/public-accounts/2023-24/public-accounts-2023-24.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.42 / PDF p.44 Consolidated Statement of Operations, 2023 Actual as restated; printed p.78 / PDF p.80, Note 26, footnote 4: $252m adjustment; p.11 also states $956m"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/quarterly-reports/2026-27_first_quarterly_report.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.75 / PDF p.83, Table A4 Operating Statement 2019/20 to 2028/29; footnote 1: figures restated to reflect current accounting policies"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "fiscal_year": "2023–24",
    "graphic_claim": "$5.0 billion deficit",
    "finding": "Supported as a rounded actual",
    "current_value_millions": -5035,
    "status": "Actual deficit",
    "explanation": "Public Accounts reported a $5.035-billion deficit, which rounds to $5.0 billion. The September 2026 historical series continues to show $5.035 billion.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/public-accounts/2023-24/public-accounts-2023-24.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.11 / PDF p.13 Budget and Actual Results; p.42 / PDF p.44 Consolidated Statement of Operations, 2024 Actual"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024FIN0033-001352",
        "detail": "Aug 22, 2024 release, Public accounts 2023-24 backgrounder"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/public-accounts/2024-25/public-accounts-2024-25.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.11 / PDF p.13 confirms 2023/24 comparative deficit remains $5,035m"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/quarterly-reports/2026-27_first_quarterly_report.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.75 / PDF p.83, Table A4 Operating Statement 2019/20 to 2028/29; footnote 1: figures restated to reflect current accounting policies"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "fiscal_year": "2024–25",
    "graphic_claim": "$7.3 billion deficit",
    "finding": "Supported as a rounded actual",
    "current_value_millions": -7347,
    "status": "Actual deficit",
    "explanation": "The August 2025 Public Accounts release reported a $7.3-billion deficit. The latest quarterly historical table gives $7.347 billion, still $7.3 billion when rounded to one decimal place.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "url": "https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025FIN0031-000750",
        "detail": "Public Accounts 2024-25 release, Aug 7, 2025"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/public-accounts/2025-26/public-accounts-2025-26.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.11 / PDF p.13 Budget and Actual Results 2025/26, 2024/25 Actual column; p.19 / PDF p.21 Changes in Actual Results"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/public-accounts/2024-25/public-accounts-2024-25.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.11 / PDF p.13 original 2024/25 actual is $7,347m (not $7,346m)"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/quarterly-reports/2026-27_first_quarterly_report.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.75 / PDF p.83, Table A4 Operating Statement 2019/20 to 2028/29; footnote 1: figures restated to reflect current accounting policies"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "fiscal_year": "2025–26",
    "graphic_claim": "$9.6 billion deficit",
    "finding": "Superseded forecast",
    "current_value_millions": -7700,
    "status": "Actual deficit",
    "explanation": "Budget 2026 carried a $9.614-billion forecast for the closing year. Public Accounts released August 10, 2026 subsequently reported an actual $7.7-billion deficit. The graphic uses the old forecast.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "url": "https://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2026/pdf/2026_Budget_and_Fiscal_Plan.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.7 / PDF p.17, Table 1.1 Three Year Fiscal Plan, Updated Forecast 2025/26"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/public-accounts/2025-26/public-accounts-2025-26.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.11 / PDF p.13, Budget and Actual Results 2025/26, Updated Forecast and Actual columns"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026FIN0029-000934",
        "detail": "Aug 10, 2026 release, Public Accounts 2025-26 backgrounder"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/quarterly-reports/2026-27_first_quarterly_report.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.75 / PDF p.83, Table A4 Operating Statement 2019/20 to 2028/29; footnote 1: figures restated to reflect current accounting policies"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "fiscal_year": "2026–27",
    "graphic_claim": "$13.8 billion deficit",
    "finding": "Supported—but it is a forecast",
    "current_value_millions": -13759,
    "status": "Updated forecast deficit, September14,2026",
    "explanation": "The September first-quarter update projects $13.759 billion, rounded to $13.8 billion. This is not a completed-year loss; it supersedes February’s $13.309-billion budget forecast.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/quarterly-reports/2026-27_first_quarterly_report.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.1 / PDF p.9 Updated Fiscal Plan table; p.5 / PDF p.13 Table 1.1 and Chart 1.1"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026FIN0031-001066",
        "detail": "Sept 14 release; Sept 16 updated Operating results backgrounder"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/quarterly-reports/2026-27_first_quarterly_report.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.75 / PDF p.83, Table A4 Operating Statement 2019/20 to 2028/29; footnote 1: figures restated to reflect current accounting policies"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "fiscal_year": "2027–28",
    "graphic_claim": "$12.2 billion deficit",
    "finding": "Older projection; latest forecast is higher",
    "current_value_millions": -12671,
    "status": "Future fiscal-plan deficit, September14,2026",
    "explanation": "February’s Budget 2026 projected $12.165 billion, rounded to $12.2 billion. The September update raises the planned deficit to $12.671 billion—about $12.7 billion. Neither is an actual result.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "url": "https://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2026/pdf/2026_Budget_and_Fiscal_Plan.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.7 / PDF p.17, Table 1.1, Plan 2027/28"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/quarterly-reports/2026-27_first_quarterly_report.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.1 / PDF p.9, Updated Fiscal Plan table, Deficit - First Quarterly Report, 2027/28; p.2 / PDF p.10 narrative $12.7bn"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/quarterly-reports/2026-27_first_quarterly_report.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.75 / PDF p.83, Table A4 Operating Statement 2019/20 to 2028/29; footnote 1: figures restated to reflect current accounting policies"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "fiscal_year": "2028–29",
    "graphic_claim": "$11.4 billion deficit",
    "finding": "Older projection; latest forecast is higher",
    "current_value_millions": -11988,
    "status": "Future fiscal-plan deficit, September14,2026",
    "explanation": "February’s Budget 2026 projected $11.437 billion, rounded to $11.4 billion. The September update raises the planned deficit to $11.988 billion—about $12.0 billion. Neither is an actual result.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "url": "https://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2026/pdf/2026_Budget_and_Fiscal_Plan.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.7 / PDF p.17, Table 1.1, Plan 2028/29"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/quarterly-reports/2026-27_first_quarterly_report.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.1 / PDF p.9, Updated Fiscal Plan table, Deficit - First Quarterly Report, 2028/29; p.2 / PDF p.10 narrative $12.0bn"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/government-finances/quarterly-reports/2026-27_first_quarterly_report.pdf",
        "detail": "printed p.75 / PDF p.83, Table A4 Operating Statement 2019/20 to 2028/29; footnote 1: figures restated to reflect current accounting policies"
      }
    ]
  }
]