N.L. budget to come down in late April: Premier Paul Davis
Newfoundland and Labrador's yearly budget, which is expected to include financial restrictions due to a decline in oil revenue and a deficit of an approximately $1.5-billion, is slated to be tabled in late April.
When responding to a question from Opposition Leader Dwight Ball in the House of Assembly Monday, Premier Paul Davis said the province can't wait for the federal government to table its budget.
"We heard some weeks ago their budget wouldn't be delivered before early April," Davis said.
"We've developed a plan that we are following through on that would have our budget brought down around the end of April. Regardless of what the federal government does at this point in time, we can't move beyond that date — we're not willing to move beyond that date."
No date has been set for the delivery of the budget. However, Davis said it will be known within the coming weeks.
In a cost-cutting move leading up to the budget, Davis trimmed three seats from his cabinet, and announced a plan to reduce the number of seats in the legislature from 48 to 40.
Davis has also suggested that some services could be privatized — pointing specifically to long-term care — as a way to tighten the financial belt, and Finance Minister Ross Wiseman has said every government program is under review.
Very little has been revealed about what services — if any — will be affected by the budgetary shortfall.
Davis did say, however, that core funding for community-based organizations, including women's centres, across the province will remain in place.