Finance
January 26, 2017

Prioritizing Strong Fiscal Management

Provincial Government Seeks Feedback through Pre-budget Consultations

The Provincial Government is hosting consultation sessions in 11 locations around the province to seek the input of the public and stakeholders on Budget 2017. Sessions will be hosted by ministers and parliamentary secretaries from February 2 to 13, and will focus on advancing priorities identified in The Way Forward: A Vision for Sustainability and Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“We want to hear from the people of this province about our plan as outlined in The Way Forward, and on how we can do more to find short and long-term sustainable solutions for this province’s finances. We have taken steps over the last year to address Newfoundland and Labrador’s very serious fiscal situation and we need to continue to take action to ensure we return to surplus by 2022-23.”
- The Honourable Cathy Bennett, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board

This year’s pre-budget consultations will be guided by the four focused areas of The Way Forward, which provide a solid plan to improve the province’s financial situation while delivering effective programs and services. Stakeholders will be asked for their feedback in outlining priorities under these areas:

• A more efficient public service
• A stronger economic foundation
• Better services
• Better outcomes

“The Way Forward provides real actions to achieve our goals and get better outcomes from our programs and services. We are looking inside all government organizations for savings and to identify opportunities where we can – and have to – work smarter and deliver services more efficiently. In order to do that, we need to work together to continue to find ways to address our fiscal situation. We must take the necessary actions today to ensure long-term sustainability for our province and its people.”
- Minister Bennett

The schedule of pre-budget consultations can be found in the backgrounder below. Interested stakeholders and members of the public can register for one of the sessions or provide input through a written submission by visiting: www.fin.gov.nl.ca/fin/budget/prebudget2017/.

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government is hosting consultation sessions in 11 locations around the province to seek the input of the public and stakeholders on Budget 2017.
• Pre-budget consultations will be held throughout the province from February 2 to 13 and will focus on priorities identified in The Way Forward: A Vision for Sustainability and Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• The Provincial Government has taken steps over the last year to address Newfoundland and Labrador’s serious fiscal situation. Further action is needed to ensure the province is in a strong financial position and returns to surplus by 2022-23.
• To register for one of the Pre-Budget Consultations or to provide input through a written submission, visit www.fin.gov.nl.ca/fin/budget/prebudget2017/.

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Media contact:

Tansy Mundon Director of Communications Department of Finance 709-729-6830, 693-1865 tansymundon@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

  Pre-budget consultations will be taking place at the following dates and locations:

Date	Location	Time	Venue	Minister/Parliamentary Secretary
Thursday, February 2	St. John’s	7 p.m. – 9 p.m.	Knights of Columbus, 49 St. Clare Avenue	Minister Bennett Bernard Davis
Thursday, February 2	Gander	7 p.m. – 9 p.m.	Albatross Hotel, 114 Trans-Canada Highway	Minister Haggie Derek Bennett
Thursday, February 2	Grand Falls-Windsor	7 p.m. – 9 p.m.	St. Joseph’s Hall, 5 Station Road	Minister Hawkins
Thursday, February 2	Clarenville	7 p.m. – 9 p.m.	College of the North Atlantic – Cafeteria,  69 Pleasant Street	Minister Coady Colin Holloway
Thursday, February 2	St. Anthony	7 p.m. – 9 p.m.	Grenfell Interpretation Centre, 4 Maraval Road	Minister Mitchelmore
Friday, February 3	Marystown	2 p.m. – 4 p.m.	Marystown Hotel – Salon A, 76 Ville Marie Drive	Minister Kirby Mark Browne
Tuesday, February 7	Labrador West	7 p.m. – 9 p.m.	Arts and Culture Centre, 300 Hudson Drive	Graham Letto
Thursday, February 9	Harbour Grace	7 p.m. – 9 p.m.	The SPLASH Centre, 30A Cathedral Street	Minister Crocker
Thursday, February 9	Stephenville	2 p.m. – 4 p.m.	Arts and Culture Centre, 380 Massachusetts Drive	Minister Byrne
Monday, February 13	Corner Brook	2 p.m. – 4 p.m.	Corner Brook Civic Centre, 1 Canada Games Place	Minister Byrne Minister Joyce
Monday, February 13	Happy Valley-Goose Bay	7 p.m. – 9 p.m.	The Labrador Friendship Centre, 49 Grenfell Street	Minister Trimper

2017 01 26                              3:10 p.m.