January 23, 1997
(Finance)
Pre-budget public consultation document and
details of public consultation process released
Finance Minister Paul Dicks today released a pre-budget
consultation document on the province's fiscal position. The
document Making Choices sets out the state of the province's
finances and asks Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to participate
in the second pre-budget consultation process in the province.
"Last year, for the first time in the province's history,
government opened up to the public the decision making process
leading to the annual budget," said the minister. "Many
people told government their concerns about high taxes, and where
public monies should be spent. The input was invaluable in
preparing the 1996 Budget. As a result, government is continuing
with its commitment to public consultation on budget issues again
this year."
The Making Choices document outlines the sources of government's
funds, where our money is spent, our debt and the economic
outlook for our province. The document also includes information
on Program Review, the process which government has undertaken to
comprehensively evaluate all of our programs and services to
establish priorities, and determine the most efficient delivery
methods. In addition, the minister has included a questionnaire
which will assist government in further understanding the
opinions of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians on the taxes we pay,
the programs and services we receive, and what size our debt and
deficit should be.
"Making the right choices requires all of us to make an
assessment of where we are as a province, and where we should be
going over the next three years. The economy will be weaker in
1997, but will begin to improve in late 1998," said the
minister. "This should continue into the foreseeable future,
led by petroleum and mining developments, and helped by our
economic policies."
The minister added, however, that the economic growth does not
have an immediate positive impact on government revenues since
major resource developments have to recover their costs before
paying substantial royalties, and because federal equalization
payments decline as tax revenues increase. He said that while the
province and our people are better off as the economy
strengthens, this will not immediately translate into a
substantially better fiscal situation for the government.
Mr. Dicks pointed out that we need to deal with our financial
situation now, commencing with a sound and realistic three year
budget plan.
During the coming weeks, a series of public meetings, chaired by
Mr. Dicks, will be held around the province to seek the input of
the people. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can participate in
the consultation process by joining in the meetings, or they can
provide comments or receive information by:
- calling our toll-free phone number 1-800-563-7442
- e-mailing us at choices@fine.gov.nf.ca
- visiting us on the Internet at //choices.htm
- faxing us at 709-729-2095 or
- writing us at Making Choices, c/o Minister of Finance,
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, P.O. Box 8700, St.
John's, NF A1B 4J6
For those with special needs, the Making Choices document is also
available in alternative format.
The dates and locations for the public meetings are as follows:
DATE LOCATION VENUE
Friday, January 31 Corner Brook Holiday Inn
Monday, February 3 Wabush Wabush Hotel
Tuesday, February 4 Happy Valley-Goose Bay The Aurora
Friday, February 7 Grand Falls-Windsor Mount Peyton
Monday, February 10 Marystown Hotel Marystown
Tuesday, February 11 Clarenville Clarenville Inn
Wednesday, February 12 Gander Irving West
Thursday and Friday,
February 13 and 14 St. John's The Battery
Groups and individuals wishing to make a presentation to the
Minister of Finance at the public meetings are asked to make
arrangements by telephoning the 1-800 line.
Contact: Karen M. McCarthy, Director of Communications, (709)
729- 0110.
1997 01 23 4:40 p.m.