David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
"It’s going to be a difficult budget,' says finance minister"
Surprise Surprise Surprise
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/02/province-pulls-off-narrow-surplus-for.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/higgs-government-projects-narrow-budget-surplus-1.5019718
Province pulls off narrow surplus for 2018-19
'It’s going to be a difficult budget,' says finance minister
he
New Brunswick government will have a razor-thin $4.5 million budget
surplus this year, Progressive Conservative Finance Minister Ernie
Steeves has announced.
The dramatic improvement over the
$188.7-million deficit projected in the Liberal government's last budget
is attributed mostly to higher than expected revenues, including
personal and corporate income taxes and federal transfer payments.
The new projection is from the government's third-quarter financial results for 2018-19.
Premier Blaine Higgs let the cat out of the bag two weeks ago when he said the province would have a balanced budget this year.
But
Steeves warned that the surplus is on a "thin edge" and the province's
debt continues to grow. That means his first provincial budget next
month will look for new ways to reduce spending, he said.
"It's going to be a difficult budget. We need to explore new ways to do things in a more efficient manner."
Steeves said he's looking at all programs "from beginning to end" to find savings.
Figures released by Steeves's department project corporate income tax revenue will be $130.9 million higher than expected when the 2018-19 year ends on March 31. Personal income tax is forecast to be $101 million higher than expected.
Premier
Blaine Higgs announced during his first state of the province speech
that New Brunswick would have a balanced budget this year. (Stephen MacGillivray/Canadian Press)
Federal
transfers for health and social services are also up because Statistics
Canada has updated its 2016 census figures to reflect a higher New
Brunswick population.
Spending is also higher than in the budget, including $21.7 million the province must spend to pay off contractors who were ordered in December to stop their work on various projects.
That's when Steeves cut planned infrastructure spending by more than $200 million, cancelling several large projects started under the Gallant Liberals.
That included a replacement New Brunswick Museum in Saint John and a new courthouse in Fredericton.
In its throne speech last fall, the Higgs government promised two tax cuts whenever the province had a balanced budget.
One was the elimination of the small business tax and the other was an end to property taxes on secondary properties.
Steeves said the government hasn't decided whether to make those cuts in its upcoming budget.
The minister will introduce his first full budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year when the legislature resumes March 19.
The new projection is from the government's third-quarter financial results for 2018-19.
Premier Blaine Higgs let the cat out of the bag two weeks ago when he said the province would have a balanced budget this year.
"It's going to be a difficult budget. We need to explore new ways to do things in a more efficient manner."
Steeves said he's looking at all programs "from beginning to end" to find savings.
Figures released by Steeves's department project corporate income tax revenue will be $130.9 million higher than expected when the 2018-19 year ends on March 31. Personal income tax is forecast to be $101 million higher than expected.
Spending is also higher than in the budget, including $21.7 million the province must spend to pay off contractors who were ordered in December to stop their work on various projects.
That's when Steeves cut planned infrastructure spending by more than $200 million, cancelling several large projects started under the Gallant Liberals.
In its throne speech last fall, the Higgs government promised two tax cuts whenever the province had a balanced budget.
One was the elimination of the small business tax and the other was an end to property taxes on secondary properties.
Steeves said the government hasn't decided whether to make those cuts in its upcoming budget.
The minister will introduce his first full budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year when the legislature resumes March 19.
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David Amos
"It’s going to be a difficult budget,' says finance minister"
Surprise Surprise Surprise
Surprise Surprise Surprise
David Amos
Methinks if folks are truly concerned about taxation and balanced budgets etc they should checkout the hidden debts within all the politicians' favourite cashcow NB Power.
If anyone wishes to recall not long after the writ was dropped Gallant promised to freeze the power rates for four years much to the chagrin of the Green Party leader who can't be named in the CBC domain. However as soon as Mr Higgs became the Premier the Greens changed their tune and brought the questionable;e Crown Corp before a legislative committee as soon as NB Power applied for a big rate hike with EUB. Its in the news what happened at the committee but nothing is said about what happened at the EUB hearing on Feb 6th.
At least nobody can deny that the EUB hearings and their transcripts are a matter of public record as well N'esy Pas?
stephen blunston
great tax cuts for businesses
... booo on you mr higgs , they hide all the ptrofits to say that don't
make any pay very little taxes as it is and you want to cut more .. how
about us ordinary people that never seem to get a break anyplace . I
like the balanced budget part . if you looking for cuts lets cut duality
of services .. and I don't meen front line people but the fools sitting
in offices running separate systems for no reason , and lets start
making Irving pay their fair share of tax or give us all the same tax
break.
David Amos
@stephen blunston Methinks it
was rather obvious long ago that the main mandate of Mr Higgs is to
keep the Irving Clan Happy Happy Happy N'esy Pas?
Gary Spencer
In Ontario 124 MPPs service
14.19 million people, that is 114,435 constituents per MPP. If the
Higgs Government really wants to make meaningful cuts they should begin
by reducing the number of MLAs to 750,000/114,435 = 6.5 MLAs. To be
fair, we probably need around 20.
stephen blunston
@Gary Spencer agreed over
head is to big Fredericton for the salaries and gold pensions they steal
, and I do meen steal as they do no damn work
David Amos
@Gary Spencer Good Point
Lou Bell
Meanwhile , Robert Gauvin was
at a meeting of the Franco Phonie Games . Hopefully he clarified that
New Brunswick is a province of only 750,000 people and NOT a country !
And that many of the participating countries are not even Francophone
countries of any kind .
David Amos
@Lou Bell Methinks you forgot
the best part Everybody knows the Quebecois lawyer Melanie Joly had
shown no leadership when she was the Heritage Minister so she was
shuffled away to oversee Canada's Francophonie issues Now Joly slams her
home province for being cheap just like the Acadian lawyerDominic
Leblanc did Too Too Funny N'esy Pas?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/robert-gauvin-paris-2021-francophonie-games-1.5019904
"Earlier this week, after a special meeting of council Monday night, the City of Sherbrooke decided to pursue the games.
The city competed against Moncton-Dieppe during the original bidding process, presenting a budget of $52 million.
But the revised budget came up to $84 million, and with the province of Quebec putting the cap at $17 million for its contribution, Sherbrooke also found itself coming up short.
Quebec asked the federal government Wednesday whether it would contribute more than 50 per cent of the bill.
Canada's Francophonie minister, Melanie Joly, said Quebec would need to show more leadership and up its contribution if it was serious about the games.
Meeting chair Annie Laflamme of Canada said there were no offers on the table to host the 2021 Francohonie Games. (Radio-Canada)"
David Amos
@Lou Bell Methinks Mr Higgs'
decision made a lot of local French folks HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY no matter
what his deputy may claim to foreign francophones N'esy Pas?
"Speaking in front of member states' representatives, Gauvin addressed New Brunswick's decision. "The decision to withdraw from organizing the games was made with a heavy heart," he said."
"Speaking in front of member states' representatives, Gauvin addressed New Brunswick's decision. "The decision to withdraw from organizing the games was made with a heavy heart," he said."
Lou Bell
The whiners sure seem to dislike helping the small business people !
David Amos
@Lou Bell True but nobody knows who you are so why would your opinion count?
Lou Bell
Ah , nice to get a good
nights rest knowing the " boogeyman " ( or should I say drunken sailor )
will no longer be bangin' on the door wantin' his money !
Content disabled.
David Amos
@Lou Bell Then why are you up so late commenting in CBC?
David Amos
@David Amos Too Funny
Jim Cyr
It's very simple: the
Conservatives prefer to have a surplus, even if it's a small one. The
Libs and Greens are fine with a deficit, even if it's a big one.
Full stop.
Full stop.
David Amos
@Jim Cyr "Full stop"
Too late you already put your foot in your mouth
Too late you already put your foot in your mouth
Marc Martin
@Jim Cyr
Then why did your idol Higgs run a deficit for 4 years when he was the finance minister ?
Then why did your idol Higgs run a deficit for 4 years when he was the finance minister ?
eddy watts
The last time Higgs was part
of government (Alward 2010-14) spending was indeed lower, but CUTS in
essential services (health, education) were debilitating , as well as
the increase in taxes. "Lest we Forget 2010-14" Job creation (minus 2%)
Number of new businesses (minus 5%) new taxes (plus 5%)....University
grad exodus (plus 6%)....Nova Scotia grad exodus minus 1%...other grads
moved into N.S. The only group to benefit during 2010-14 Conservative
tenure ?Big Business.
David Amos
@eddy watts YUP
Marc Martin
@eddy watts
Exactly.
Exactly.
Pierre Cyr
Hardly makes sense. Revenue
is up over 240 million and the feds added an extra 180 million which
alone would wipe the deficit of about 188 million but we are barely
treading water? Theres a 200+ million $ hole in that budget.
David Amos
@Pierre Cyr It appears so
Marc Martin
@Pierre Cyr
As someone always says * welcome to the circus*...
As someone always says * welcome to the circus*...
David Amos
@Marc Martin Methinks you play you part quite well N'esy Pas?
Pierre Cyr
@David Amos And Im not adding the cuts of 180 million last fall in the capital estimates. 400 million $ surplus.
eddy watts
Ha not too difficult to do:
CUT CUT CUT. No plans to increase revenue, typical Conservative
innovative planning i..e. Less services in
Health...Education.....environment....ohhhh no cuts in tax however,
unless your name starts with I and ends in G.
Jim Cyr
@eddy watts Eddy, this may surprise you, but having a robust economy actually increases revenue to the state.
Lou Bell
@eddy watts So you've already seen the budget ! Hmmm !
David Amos
@Jim Cyr Thats common knowledge even the Greens and the NDP know that
Marc Martin
@Jim Cyr
facts ? Links ?
facts ? Links ?
David Amos
@Marc Martin Methinks SANB dudes should forgo Gallant's free tuition and study economics at a different university N'esy Pas?
Seamus O'hern
@David Amos ....Bahahaha....indeed David.
Pierre LaRoches
@eddy watts Liberals
increased revenue via fees and taxes by a billion dollars, then raised
spending to match. Higgs and co have to unwrap all that without sending
us spiraling. It is difficult to fix the mess Liberals make.
Harold Benson
Where is the litigator when you need him?
David Amos
@Harold Benson I have been here all along
Aaron Lagendyk
Can we invest that money into a green energy grid?
David Amos
@Aaron Lagendyk Methinks we
are already producing more that enough electricity Its High Time to take
care of the old folks in the hospitals who can't find a bed N'esy Pas?
stephen blunston
@David Amos they couldn't do that they wouldn't be able to cut more business taxes if they actually helped the people needing it
Doug Leblanc
He should put it all on our funded debt in Gallant's name.
Gallant added over 3 billion and could have paved the highways with that.
Where he spent 3 billion is a good question that francophones should ask him.
Gallant added over 3 billion and could have paved the highways with that.
Where he spent 3 billion is a good question that francophones should ask him.
David Amos
@Doug Leblanc Methinks
Gallant's fair weather francophonie friends have already deleted his
number form their smart phones that we no doubt paid for N'esy Pas?
Marc Martin
@Doug Leblanc
*Gallant added over 3 billion *
He did ? What did the government do before him ?
*Gallant added over 3 billion *
He did ? What did the government do before him ?
Richard Dunn
Keep up the great work Mr. Steeves. It will not be easy but we have the right team on the job.
It has been refreshing to see lots of positive changes now that we have adults looking after the chequebook.
It has been refreshing to see lots of positive changes now that we have adults looking after the chequebook.
David Amos
@Richard Dunn Dream on
Marc Martin
@Richard Dunn
*Keep up the great work Mr. Steeves*
Didn't the Cons fund a Steve family reunion when they were in power ?
*Keep up the great work Mr. Steeves*
Didn't the Cons fund a Steve family reunion when they were in power ?
Jody Melsom
Let's see how excited we are
when the highways are undriveable because they cut all road repair
funding. How many more people get to die on Route 11 because he stopped
the twinning of the highway??
Jim Cyr
@Jody Melsom That twinning was the most farcical project ever. Total "make work".
David Amos
@Jim Cyr YUP
Harold Benson
Razor thin, in other words you don't have to tell us what you are going to do with it.
David Amos
@Harold Benson Mais Ouis
Shawn McShane
Everybody wants the surplus
to go somewhere. the biggest hands at the table are the banks wanting
interest on the debt. 1974 Pierre Trudeau should not have taken the
country off the Bank of Canada.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rocco-galati-challenges-bank-of-canada-to-offer-interest-free-loans-1.3065650
https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2015/04/17/Liberate-Bank-of-Canada/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rocco-galati-challenges-bank-of-canada-to-offer-interest-free-loans-1.3065650
https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2015/04/17/Liberate-Bank-of-Canada/
David Amos
@Shawn McShane FYI I have spoken personally with Rocco Galati Have you?
Matt Steele
This is certainly good news ,
but with a 14 BILLION PLUS prov. debt hanging over the taxpayers heads ,
a lot more needs to be done . The Prov. is spending nearly 2 MILLION
per day just in interest payments . It is time to streamline govt.
services ; and start getting rid of the govt. fat . Govt. should be
providing ESSENTIAL SERVICES , and stop being a make work project for
people who know someone in govt . Get rid of the Off Road Vehicle Unit
as the Conservation Officers can do that job ; get rid of the Cigarette
Police as the RCMP can do that job ; get rid of all the people in the
Education dept. like Teacher Leads , Education Directors , etc. who are
not actually teaching a classroom.....and so on . It would be so EASY
to reduce govt. spending if the political will was there .
Eugene Peabody
@Matt Steele It is always so
easy for a Con to cut government costs,just eliminate jobs and services
that I do not want. And that thinking is why there is a perfect Bell
Curve on charts that show GDP and Conservative government reigns.We can
see that right here in NB very easy.
Matt Steele
@Eugene Peabody .... The
prov. debt DOUBLED in the last 10 years....14.2 BILLION debt and nearly 2
MILLION per day just in interest payments . This for a province of
around 750,000 people , with one of the oldest populations in Canada ,
and a rapidly declining birth rate....quite the bell curve .
Aaron Lagendyk
@Matt Steele It's a lot
simpler than just cutting some programs. Just lower taxes. Revenue
doesn't come from personal income tax. It comes from capital gains and
small business. It also doesn't help that a handful of companies have an
absolute monopoly in the province either.
tldr; You give people more money and they're apt to spend it.
tldr; You give people more money and they're apt to spend it.
FDavid Amos
@Matt Steele Methinks Mr
Higgs knows that what I have been pounding on for years about how to get
us out of debt I explained again during the last election in a debate
in Fundy with Bruce Northrup et al and on Rogers TV as well. Nobody has
disputed it yet.
Fred Sanford
I for one would love to see
them cancel the stupid free tuition that the Liberals brought in and
return to the previous student loan rebate for graduates who stay and
work in the province. It's cheaper and creates incentives for our youth
to at least try to make a life here instead of educating our young
people for the benefit of other provinces.
Dan Armitage
@Fred Sanford Fred nurses
tuition went up over 2000 dollars after the liberals started paying
tuition In turn costing us all. The rebate on the student loan is a good
program and we need to go even a little farther like you say in helping
keep our kids here.
More work at keeping our youth In the province instead of worrying about immigration is first then immigration is second to that.
More work at keeping our youth In the province instead of worrying about immigration is first then immigration is second to that.
David Amos
@Fred Sanford Me Too
michael levesque
you could even have a larger
surplus if you would go after the 600 plus people collecting pension
check they do not qualify for like rodeny weston and dana glendenning.
just as domonic cardy he knows about it.
David Amos
@michael levesque Methinks
now that Cardy is a cabinet minister he has forgotten everything
questionable conservatives and liberals have done in the past N'esy Pas?
kelly sherrard
There absolutely should not
be cuts to healthcare and education. They have cut and slashed these 2
areas for so long and then they blame the workers when the resulting
gaping holes become evident. This budget and the following ones during
the Conservatives term could mean another 1 term gov't and you can't
blame the voters for it.......
Marc Martin
@kelly sherrard
*There absolutely should not be cuts to healthcare and education*
Where do you think he will replace the small business taxe revenues and the property taxe revenue ? It has to come from somewhere. Higgs was a finance minster for 4 years, for 4 years the Cons ran a deficit. There is only one way to replace these taxe, either he cuts OR he up taxe on the revenue.
*There absolutely should not be cuts to healthcare and education*
Where do you think he will replace the small business taxe revenues and the property taxe revenue ? It has to come from somewhere. Higgs was a finance minster for 4 years, for 4 years the Cons ran a deficit. There is only one way to replace these taxe, either he cuts OR he up taxe on the revenue.
Fred Brewer
@Marc Martin
All he has to do is start making big industry pay its fair share of taxes.
All he has to do is start making big industry pay its fair share of taxes.
Lou Bell
@kelly sherrard Not sure
where you get the cuts to Education , or even healthcare for that
matter in the past few years ! But spin if you must !
Lou Bell
@Marc Martin Just needs to rid the province of the spending " like a drunken sailor " of the party he just defeated !
Colin Seeley
@Fred Brewer
They just said that in NYC to Amazon.
They are leaving for somewhere else.
SNC were denied. They may fold and 8000 jobs lost to PQ.
Can’t be a serious comment.
They just said that in NYC to Amazon.
They are leaving for somewhere else.
SNC were denied. They may fold and 8000 jobs lost to PQ.
Can’t be a serious comment.
Jake Devries
@kelly sherrard he can save a
bundle by combining the 2 health admins and the 2 Educations ones
too..So much waste in duplicating...I hope PA really push the PC's into
doing that
Marc Martin
@Jake Devries
education is not an option its mandate by the Federal government in every province.
education is not an option its mandate by the Federal government in every province.
Marc Martin
@Fred Brewer
He has just mentioned he will lower the taxe for business and remove the proprety taxe...all that taxe money where will he take it from ?
He has just mentioned he will lower the taxe for business and remove the proprety taxe...all that taxe money where will he take it from ?
Fred Brewer
@Colin Seeley
"They just said that in NYC to Amazon. "
Yup, and it was an easy decision for Amazon to leave as they had not started construction. But not so easy to move a refinery or a pulp mill. Get my drift?
"They just said that in NYC to Amazon. "
Yup, and it was an easy decision for Amazon to leave as they had not started construction. But not so easy to move a refinery or a pulp mill. Get my drift?
eddy watts
@kelly sherrard you've got
it...There was no (real) planning under Alward to reduce the debt
besides CUTTING EDUCATION and HEALTH, as well as other services.
Higgs was part of that government.
David Amos
@Fred Brewer "All he has to do is start making big industry pay its fair share of taxes."
YUP
YUP
Marc Martin
@Fred Brewer
*But not so easy to move a refinery or a pulp mill. Get my drift?*
And the big sawmill they have in St Leonard..thats a big one for them.
*But not so easy to move a refinery or a pulp mill. Get my drift?*
And the big sawmill they have in St Leonard..thats a big one for them.
Marc Martin
*One was the elimination of the small business tax and the other was an end to property taxes on secondary properties. *
Totally a Cons move give more to the rich and remove from the poor. These taxes he will removes are millions he will need to get back somewhere.
Totally a Cons move give more to the rich and remove from the poor. These taxes he will removes are millions he will need to get back somewhere.
Fred Brewer
@Marc Martin
That's a simplistic view of things. Reducing or eliminating taxes can spur the economy and generate additional tax revenue from HST and other existing taxes.
That's a simplistic view of things. Reducing or eliminating taxes can spur the economy and generate additional tax revenue from HST and other existing taxes.
Lou Bell
@Marc Martin So , NO CUTS
to small business tax or second properties ! I imagine VERY FEW of
these , if any , are " the rich " that you refer to !
Marc Martin
@Fred Brewer
Did it work when Harper was in charge of Canada ? The billions the industry saved was not reinvested into the economy with jobs.
Did it work when Harper was in charge of Canada ? The billions the industry saved was not reinvested into the economy with jobs.
Marc Martin
@Lou Bell
Well they are richer then me. I don't own a second home do you ?
Well they are richer then me. I don't own a second home do you ?
Stephen Long
@Marc Martin It's not just
second homes. Try to make a bit more money by renting a room in your
house or the basement and you'll pay for it with higher property tax.
Eugene Peabody
@Lou Bell No not all are but
there are lots of people who are doing good.The cuts WILL help those who
do not need it and not make much difference to the rest and will do
nothing to improve the economy.All you have to do is look at the
corporate tax cuts under Graham .That cut government revenue by
approximately $400 million and did nothing to bring in new companies and
did not improve the GDP despite being told over and over again that it
would .
Eugene Peabody
@Stephen Long So what is
wrong with that? Improve your property and your assessment will go up
because it is valued more if you want to sell it.
Lou Bell
@Stephen Long 2nd properties
! All your SANB buddies have cottages out Shediac way ! That's where
they hold their " caucus " meetings !
David Amos
@Marc Martin Cry me a river
Colin Seeley
Revenue increases were the
results of increased personal and business taxes and transfer payments
from Ottawa . Hardly a good thing.
Liberal Project Expenses were trimmed by $200 million.
A very good thing.
We stilll don’t have non - Govt job growth
Stay tuned. Higgs. Will fix the illLiberal messes.
Liberal Project Expenses were trimmed by $200 million.
A very good thing.
We stilll don’t have non - Govt job growth
Stay tuned. Higgs. Will fix the illLiberal messes.
Robert Brannen
@Colin Seeley
Was that a $200 million dollar trimming, or only $178.3 million due to the $21.7 million the province must spend as a result of the trimming?
Was that a $200 million dollar trimming, or only $178.3 million due to the $21.7 million the province must spend as a result of the trimming?
Marc Martin
@Colin Seeley
Oh will he ? Where do you think he will get the revenue taxes he is going to remove from the riches ? Do you think small business will hire more ? No. Do you think the rent and houses will go down ? NO.
Oh will he ? Where do you think he will get the revenue taxes he is going to remove from the riches ? Do you think small business will hire more ? No. Do you think the rent and houses will go down ? NO.
Lou Bell
@Robert Brannen Better to spend a little to save a lot than to spend a lot and save nothing .
Lou Bell
@Marc Martin So , you're
against small business or even helping them ! Perhaps we just need to
help keep them from going out of business ! If you read the newspapers
from around the province you would have seen where quite a few closed
their doors in January all around the province !!
David Amos
@Robert Brannen Methinks we should wait and see the budget N'esy Pas?
Emery Hyslop-Margison
Excellent news! Now PLEASE
use the excess cash to start fixing the massive potholes on New
Brunswick roadways before someone gets seriously injured or killed
trying to avoid them!
Marc Martin
@Emery Hyslop-Margison
Extra cash ? You people are not too good at math, he will need more cash to replace the 2 taxes he intend to remove and lower.
Extra cash ? You people are not too good at math, he will need more cash to replace the 2 taxes he intend to remove and lower.
Lou Bell
@Marc Martin Don't worry ! Them Liberal potholes will get fixed !
David Amos
@Emery Hyslop-Margison Good Point
Dan Armitage
In its throne speech last fall, the Higgs government promised two tax cuts whenever the province had a balanced budget.
One was the elimination of the small business tax and the other was an end to property taxes on secondary properties.
keep this promise and your numbers will go no were but up
One was the elimination of the small business tax and the other was an end to property taxes on secondary properties.
keep this promise and your numbers will go no were but up
Rosco holt
@Dan Armitage
Which numbers?
The provincial debt.... Is that the one?
Which numbers?
The provincial debt.... Is that the one?
Lou Bell
@Rosco holt Getting the cost of the debt in control will do great things in the end ! Don't worry , he''l prove you wrong !
Marc Martin
@Lou Bell
You mean like he did when he was minister of finance for 4 years running the worst deficit in years ?
You mean like he did when he was minister of finance for 4 years running the worst deficit in years ?
David Amos
@Dan Armitage Methinks its
rather unusual for you to expect a politician to keep a promise
particularly when it comes to elimination of taxation N'esy Pas?
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