The first step in solving any problem is recognizing you have one.

British Columbians should be able to see how their government invests in wellbeing across a lifetime. Provincial budget documents don’t routinely provide the whole picture.

Every party should commit to publishing an age breakdown of spending, with clear explanations of how investments support children, younger adults, and seniors — and monitor how that balance changes over time.

This matters especially as population aging increases medical costs. Younger people already contribute more of their income taxes toward healthy retirements than today’s seniors did at the same age, even as they face greater housing pressures and financial insecurity.

Reporting spending by age would make these choices visible. It would help voters assess whether investments in education, child care, housing, and climate safety are keeping pace — and hold governments accountable for helping every generation thrive.