Liberals say Quebec’s deficit higher than expected

QUEBEC – Quebec’s new premier says the province’s deficit for the most recent fiscal year is $600 million more than projected.

Philippe Couillard says the 2013-14 deficit has clocked in at more than $3.1 billion instead of the $2.5 billion mentioned by the Parti Quebecois before the recent election.

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Speaking at his first news conference since becoming premier Wednesday, Couillard said Quebec needs to tighten its belt to clean up its public finances.

As a result, the government will strive to cut administrative costs as well as imposing a hiring freeze in the public sector.

Couillard is still aiming to meet the previous PQ government’s objective of having a balanced budget in 2015-16.

The premier also said the national assembly will reconvene on May 20 with a budget to be tabled in June.