Finance
March 20, 2015

Engagement and Consultation Essential to Annual Budget Planning

Feedback from Pre-Budget Consultations Available Online

As part of planning for Budget 2015, the Provincial Government requested that residents of Newfoundland and Labrador get engaged and have their say by sharing their ideas for dealing with the current financial situation. The information gathered during pre-budget consultations, including the results of the Budget Consultations Survey, is available online www.fin.gov.nl.ca/fin/budget/prebudget/whatweheard.html.

"Effective engagement and consultation are essential to our annual budget planning. No single engagement activity, method or tool is likely to appeal to all members of the public. A variety of engagement options, including the survey of the general population, have been utilized to accommodate the preferences of diverse participants and ensure the voices of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are heard during this budget process. Our Budget Consultations Survey, in particular, has allowed us to get a sense of what the general population of the province is thinking about the budgetary shortfall. This method, along with the traditional pre-budget community consultations, has allowed us to hear from more people, which is vital as we continue the budget process."
- The Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board

Pre-budget consultations consisted of 12 community sessions, a telephone survey, written submissions and an interactive online engagement tool called the Dialogue App. Details of each are outlined in the backgrounder below.

"With our new fiscal reality in the coming years as we manage a gradual return to a zero deficit, we have to have a frank and open discussion about what we want in our budget. We need to recognize the reality of lower oil revenues, but also be cognizant of the role government plays in the provincial economy and continue to support a positive climate for growth. I am pleased with the participation in the pre-budget consultations and encourage residents to continue sharing their ideas as we continue planning for the budget."
- Minister Wiseman

Residents are encouraged to continue use the Dialogue App as well as make written submissions with suggestions for Budget 2015.

QUICK FACTS

• Submissions gathered during pre-budget consultations are now available on the Department of Finance website at www.fin.gov.nl.ca/fin/budget/prebudget/whatweheard.html.
• Pre-budget consultations consisted of community sessions, a telephone survey, written submissions and an interactive online engagement tool called the Dialogue App, all encouraging individuals to share and discuss their ideas on how to address the budget deficit.
• The Budget Consultations Survey 2015 was conducted via telephone between February 17 and March 3, 2015, with a total of 404 people surveyed to seek the views of the residents of the province regarding the current fiscal situation.
• Twelve pre-budget consultation sessions were held in 11 communities throughout the province, with approximately 200 people participating and 40 written submissions presented to the Department of Finance.
• Through the Dialogue App, an easy and accessible forum to share ideas on how to address the financial challenges faced by the province, approximately 65 ideas have been shared to date.
• Residents are encouraged to continue use the Dialogue App as well as make written submissions with suggestions for Budget 2015.

- 30 -

Media contact:

BACKGROUNDER
Budget 2015 Pre-Budget Consultations

Budget Consultations Survey 2015
The telephone survey, called Budget Consultations Survey 2015, was administered between February 17 and March 3, 2015 to seek the views of the people of the province regarding the current fiscal situation. A total of 404 people were surveyed. The survey was carried out by the Newfoundland and Labrador Statistics Agency of the Economics and Statistics Branch of the Department of Finance under the authority of the Newfoundland and Labrador Statistics Agency Act, which provides the legal authority to collect the data and guarantees privacy regarding individual responses. A random, probability based sample of respondents was used and the results are accurate within ±4.9%, 19 times out of 20.

Community Consultations
Pre-budget community consultations took place between February 23 and March 13, 2015 in 11 communities, including two sessions in St. John's. Consultations took place in Bay Roberts, Gander, Marystown, Clarenville, Labrador West, St. John's, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Springdale, Stephenville, Corner Brook and Grand Falls-Windsor. In total, approximately 200 people attended the sessions and during the sessions over 35 written submissions were received.

The Dialogue App
The Dialogue App is an interactive online engagement tool on the Department of Finance website and allows individuals to share and discuss their ideas on how to address the budget deficit resulting from the unforeseen global drop in oil prices. To date, approximately 65 ideas have been shared through the Dialogue App.

2015 03 20                              1:20 p.m.