Finance
December 7, 2017

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Finance and President and Treasury Board:

Minister Osborne Invites Feedback from Public, Public Sector and Opposition Members into Pre-Budget Consultations

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to announce the start of pre-budget consultations for Budget 2018. This is the earliest these consultations have commenced over the past decade.

This year’s consultation process is a multi-phased approach, with numerous opportunities to provide feedback from interested stakeholders, members of the public and employees in the public service. Starting today, we are accepting feedback by email at Budget2018@gov.nl.ca and by regular mail to the Department of Finance; the address can be found on the Department of Finance’s website.

Mr. Speaker, our public service has also been invited to complete an online questionnaire.

In January, the public will have the opportunity to fill out a separate online questionnaire, and we will host in-person public and stakeholder sessions.

Mr. Speaker, in the interest of collaboration and openness, I would also like to take this opportunity to invite members opposite to participate in this process. These members can choose a day between Wednesday and Friday next week where we can meet in this Honourable House. I will bring along staff from my department, and we will listen to any suggestions they have.

Members of the media are welcome to observe, and all discussion will be on the record.

I look forward to hearing from all interested parties as we move forward with these important consultations.

Thank you.

2017 12 07                              2:05 p.m.