Mr. Speaker, as significant as these deficit reduction measures are, they are only a part of what we must do to achieve fiscal health. Our fiscal problem is structural, and our remedies must be structural as well. That is why we must make permanent changes in how government works. Our objective is to provide efficient, modern services to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador at costs they can afford. That is the key to enduring fiscal health and sustainable public services.

We will establish a process of program renewal in order to re-focus programs and better prioritize where additional investment and enhanced services may be needed. Program renewal is not about doing less, although cost efficiencies must be achieved. It is about deciding what needs to done and doing it better. Program renewal gives us the opportunity to focus government expenditures to strengthen the services that people value the most. It also provides the opportunity to free up funds to invest in economic development initiatives that will increase opportunities and revenues. Each department of government will undertake an examination of its mandate and operations, including all the boards, agencies, commissions and crown corporations that report to it. The program renewal process will promote cooperation throughout government, greater innovation, linkages between social and economic programs, and meaningful consultation with stakeholders. It will ensure that programs and services are more relevant, effective and citizen-centred. A special committee of Ministers will consider program renewal proposals throughout the fall and report to Cabinet in time for next year’s budget. While program renewal will be an open-ended and constructive process, we will remain on target to reduce the cash deficit in 2005-06 and 2006-07 and eliminate it by 2007-08.

One of the issues that will be examined in the program renewal exercise is the way we administer the regional delivery of services. Health, education, income support, human resources and many other programs reach out to every region of the province in order to ensure access to government services. We need to ask whether there are cross-sectoral opportunities for better or more efficient service delivery. Can we provide better access to government services through the application of technology? Can we improve access by using existing facilities as places to obtain multiple government services rather than as single-purpose facilities, which are too often the norm? Innovative thinking in government service delivery will become a regular feature of this government’s approach.

To enable the people of the province to better assess the government’s performance in achieving its fiscal targets and program objectives on a go-forward basis, we will bring to the Legislature a transparency and accountability bill and enact legislation to increase public access to information. This shift towards greater transparency and accountability will enable the government to identify and address problems before they worsen.

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