Finance
November 14, 2017
Provincial Government Releases 2017 Fiscal and Economic Update
Despite challenging economic conditions and volatility with oil prices, the Provincial Government has maintained a steady fiscal outlook for 2017-18, and revenues remain within 99 per cent of the projection at budget time.
The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, today released the province’s annual Fiscal and Economic Update, which provides a snapshot of the province’s fiscal situation at the midway point of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018. The province’s projected deficit has been revised to $852 million from the original Budget 2017 forecast of $778 million.
Revenue has decreased by $78.8 million from the original budget forecast. Offshore oil royalties are the main cause of this decline, and are down $147 million largely due to lower price and a higher exchange rate during the first half of the year.
Expenses have held at $8.1 billion as projected in Budget 2017. Through zero-based budgeting, budget monitoring and attrition measures, core government departments have reduced expenses by $22 million, but agencies, boards and commissions have shown an increase of $18 million.
Several economic indicators are showing more positive results than expected at budget time. The outlook for real gross domestic product, household income and retail sales have all improved since budget time. On the other hand, the province is experiencing a lower than expected major project employment and a higher unemployment rate than was forecast at budget time.
Quote
“The results of this fiscal update are encouraging, as we remain on target for expenses and are within 99 per cent of our revenue projection. However, we are still facing an unsustainable deficit level. Our government will continue to take a balanced approach to fiscal management, where we focus on delivering programs and services that are important to the public in a smarter and more efficient way.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board
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Learn More
2017-18 Fiscal and Economic Update – www.fin.gov.nl.ca/fin/budget/fall_updates.html
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Media contact
Marc Budgell
Finance
709-729-2477, 689-0430
marcbudgell@gov.nl.ca
2017 11 14 12:40 p.m.