With the BC NDP landslide victory now confirmed at 22 votes, step one for the robust new majority government is simple: Get the cash it promised in the election into the hands of British Columbians.

That means turning Premier David Eby’s rebate promise — aka the “Eby-bate” — into reality.

The election promise calls for a one-time rebate cheque of up to $500 for single people with a salary up to $100,000 (phasing out at $125,000), and up to $1,000 for households phasing out at $250,000. After that, the rebate turns into an income tax cut on the first $22,580 earned annually, resulting in what New Democrats say will be similar savings.

There’s much consternation inside the government about what regulatory or legal mechanisms are required to do this. And considerable effort is being made to research the issue by the “transition team” created to help ease the changeover between the Eby government and — er, well, the Eby government.

One school of thought is to just scrawl out a few cabinet orders, rejig a couple of regulations and blast the money out as........

© BIV