Timetable for balanced budget for Quebec optimistic: Auditor general

QUEBEC – Quebec’s interim auditor general believes the provincial government is being very optimistic if it thinks it can post a balanced budget within a few years.

Michel Samson issued a report this morning on an economic update brought down last November by Finance Minister Nicolas Marceau.

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Marceau’s forecast called for deficits this year and next, but a balanced budget in 2015-2016.

Samson is not saying Marceau’s objective is impossible to achieve but he believes it is certainly ambitious.

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READ MORE: Quebec Budget 2014: Special coverage and live blog

His comments come a day before Marceau delivers the 2014-15 budget, which is expected to include a deficit of $1.7 billion.

Samson notes that Marceau has ruled out tax hikes and that the finance minister has provided for increases of only two per cent in government spending in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016.