New PC gov’t promises ‘real progress’ in maiden budget

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Although he’s only been minister of finance for four weeks, Cameron Friesen said he will identify several government cost-savings in his first budget on Tuesday afternoon.

“We have found savings in some departments. You will be able to see some of those numbers tomorrow,” he said following question period in the legislature on Monday.

Friesen allowed that his first financial blueprint will be restricted somewhat by the fact that he is introducing it two full months into the fiscal year. The former Selinger government opted not to produce a budget before the April 19 election, opting instead to release an economic and fiscal outlook in early March.

The minister said once the government has been in office for a year, it will be in a better position to put its stamp on the province’s fiscal affairs.

“At that time we’ll have had ministers in their portfolios for a longer time. They will have been working with their senior staff and their stakeholders,” the MLA for Morden-Winkler said. “That will create other opportunities.”

Nevertheless, Friesen said that the Pallister government will be able to “show real progress” in Tuesday’s budget.

“It will demonstrate where we’re going. It will line up language with real actions. And we’re looking forward to giving Manitobans a better sense of where we will go in the short term, medium term and long term,” he said.

Friesen would not get into specifics on what tax or program changes may be signalled in the budget. Or when the government might be in a position to balance the books.

“I don’t want to give everything away right now,” he said.

But he said the government would be “conservative” in its revenue and spending projections, and he suggested it would allow for unforeseen events.

“The difference (between the former NDP government and the PCs) is we are actually planning to hit the targets that we’ve set out, and that means bringing spending back in line with revenue growth. You must tie these things together.”

However, asked whether the budget would contain the usual deficit/surplus projections for the coming three or four years, Friesen would only say that the focus of Tuesday’s document would be on the current fiscal year.

“What we’re committed to do is to bring real numbers and real projections as soon as we can so that Manitobans will understand where we’re going,” he said. “We plan to be open. We plan to be transparent. Tomorrow’s focus will primarily be on what we can present in (20)16-17.”

NDP finance critic James Allum said he believes Tuesday’s offering will be “a status quo budget.”

He expects the Progressive Conservative finance minister to deliver “on some of his more marginal tax cut commitments.” He said his party will be watching for “hidden cuts” that could affect front-line services.

“We’re looking for serious commitments on publicly funded child care. I don’t think we’re going to see that tomorrow, but time will tell,” Allum said.

On Monday, Pat Wege, executive director of the Manitoba Child Care Association, said her organization is looking for the budget to include “a robust announcement on child care that addresses the critical provincewide shortage of spaces” and guarantees stable funding for child care centres.

Meanwhile, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce urged the finance minister Monday to “outline a path to get the provincial finances in order while at the same time focus on growing Manitoba’s economy.”

Friesen is expected to begin delivering his budget speech in the legislature between 2:30 and 3 p.m. The Free Press will immediately have highlights on its website.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca