It is a tough time for British Columbia. Natural gas producers are producing more but paying less to government. With bark beetle destruction and boundless raw log exports, the province’s forest industry is a shadow of its former self.

Tough times dictates tough economic medicine and BC Liberals are dishing that out to everyone: paramedics, nurses, teachers, BCGEU workers, social services and community agencies. Everyone goes without.

Well, almost everyone. Here’s a list of 31 Deputy Ministers and Associate Deputy Ministers. Collectively, their salaries jumped by 13% in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012.

Not bad in a time when a net-zero mandate was government policy.

Note: Some of these names will be familiar. I’ve written previously about this government’s generous treatment of the loyal few.