Two BC Liberal candidates announced today echoed what appears to be the party's main message this pre-election season: a balanced budget is what differentiates the governing party from its opponents.

Marvin Hunt, a 23-year Surrey city councillor, will represent the party in Surrey-Panorama. Hunt takes over the district from BC Liberal MLA Stephanie Cadieux, who is running in Surrey-Cloverdale.

"Surrey is a growing community that needs a government focused on growing our economy, not growing the size of government," Hunt is quoted as saying in a press release issued by the Liberals.

"The choice is clear -- we can move forward with balanced budgets and a BC Liberal government focused on jobs, or we can move backwards to deficits, higher debt and uncontrolled spending," he said.

Three-term Pitt Meadows councillor Doug Bing is the party's Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows candidate. He's lived in Pitt Meadows for 33 years, and according to another press release, established the first dental practice in the city.

Bing also touted the BC Liberals' balanced budget and warned that Liberal "opponents" would put B.C. "back into deficits."

"There is a clear choice in the next election -- balanced budgets and a team committed to growing the economy with Today's BC Liberals, or more debt, more deficits and a team committed to growing the size of government with the BC NDP," Bing is quoted as saying.

Mike Morris, the candidate to replace MLA Pat Bell in Prince-George Mackenzie announced yesterday, also pumped up the balanced budget in a separate press release.

"Today's BC Liberals have a strong record of prudent fiscal management that has allowed B.C. to be one of only two provinces with a balanced budget," he said.

Robyn Smith reports for The Tyee.