N.B. Tories say Liberal plan to cut $250M in spending lacks substance

The Tories in New Brunswick say a Liberal plan to slice a quarter of a billion dollars out of spending is just political smoke and mirrors.

Yesterday Liberal Leader Brian Gallant said he’ll launch a review to find the savings from government spending.

Gallant says restraining government spending is a key step towards creating jobs in the private sphere.

He says it’s modelled on how former federal Liberal Finance Minister Paul Martin slashed spending.

But the Tories say the promise is meaningless without some details on where the Liberals will actually look for savings.

Meanwhile, NDP Leader Dominic Cardy said his party has identified $300 million in cuts.

He says the details will be released during the campaign.

The Tories were elected in September 2010 committing to balance the books.

That promise has yet to be realized, as David Alward’s government is now shooting to balance the budget in 2017-18.