The provincial budget probably produces more news releases than virtually anything else in B.C.

Unions, political parties, business groups, environmental groups, and taxpayer-rights advocates all have something to say.

This year, the B.C. NDP is complaining about a "$230 million tax break" for the highest two percent of income earners.

The Canadian Taxpayers' Federation objects to yet another hike in medical-services premiums. It's the sixth in five years, which means MSP premiums are 40 percent higher than they were a half decade ago.

The B.C. Teachers' Federation is complaining about a "shell game" with education funding.

The Wilderness Committee accused the government's budget of being "spineless" on real protection for the environment.

In the meantime, there's a growing revolt across the province against the fossil-fuel industry. It's visible in the rapidly growing divestment movement, the recent protests on Burnaby Mountain, the burgeoning 350.org movement, and the rising desire among younger people to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

So far, this hasn't caught the attention of government bean counters and Finance Minister Mike de Jong.

In today's budget, they've forecasted rising natural-gas royalties, higher fuel taxes, and more carbon-tax revenue in each of the next three years.

And if those predictions aren't borne out, you can be sure that the government will be back charging even more for MSP premiums.

Where's Tommy Douglas when you need him?