New Brunswick’s first-quarter financial results show what the Liberals call a “modest” 1.5-million-dollar improvement for this year’s projected deficit, but the Opposition says it’s an overstatement.
Progressive Conservative leader Blaine Higgs tells us it’s a “shallow document” in light of the recent spending announcements that have been made.
“None of the promises that have been made by the government, which have been excessive in the last six months — going back to the beginning of the year, I think were totaling well over $1 billion now, over 200 new announcements — none of that shows up anywheres,” says Higgs.
Higgs also questioned if new taxes will be needed to help pay for those new promises.
He says the first-quarter results really don’t say anything, except the government continues to spend every dollar it brings in.
Finance Minister Cathy Rogers says it’s clear that her government’s balanced fiscal plan is working, but Higgs doesn’t quite see it the same way.
“There’s nothing balanced about the amount of spending that this government is doing,” Higgs says with a chuckle. “The budget should have been balanced long ago in relation to how much money that they’ve raised in taxes to bring in revenue and, of course, it’s just flowed right through and out the door.”
Higgs notes the government is costing $1 billion more per year to run than it did four years ago.
