Finance Minister Brenda Bailey deployed smoke and mirrors to try and hide the true size of the NDP government’s growing deficit in her latest update Monday.

The smoke came from a hefty settlement with tobacco companies over the harms of cigarettes; the mirrors from the creative misdirection government deployed to book and spend before the cash for it even arrives.

The trick shaved $1.7 billion off the books, shrinking the deficit to $11.6 billion on paper, when in reality it’s closer to $13.3 billion.

Neither figure is worth bragging about, as both reflect the largest deficit in the history of the province of British Columbia. But it was remarkable to watch how far the New Democrat government was willing to contort itself, just to shave off a little bit off the bottom line.

At the centre of the issue is $3.6 billion the province won in a recent settlement with tobacco companies over the harms of cigarettes.

The money is supposed to be paid out over 18 years. But the government suddenly tossed the whole lump sum onto its books this year—the equivalent to $2.7 billion after legal fees and other deductions.

Upon questioning, ministry officials admitted only $936 million had........

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