David Alward’s Conservative government to table first N.B. budget today

FREDERICTON – New Brunswickers will learn today what measures the provincial government will take to ward off a potential $1-billion deficit this year.

Finance Minister Blaine Higgs will table his first budget and he’s promising to take a substantial step toward returning to balanced budgets in four years.

There was much discussion about the HST, highway tolls and cutting the size of the civil service during pre-budget consultations in the province.

Higgs says the HST will not be increased while tolls and trimming the civil service will require more discussion.

While many governments try to make tough decisions early in their mandate, a political scientist at the University of New Brunswick doesn’t expect drastic measures in the budget.

Don Desserud says the public wants to see that the government has a plan to correct the financial problems over a number of years.