When the New Brunswick government delivered its 2016-17 budget last month, it included $589 million in new revenue and savings that the province said it had found through the Strategic Program Review. Documents obtained Thursday show that the review, designed to consult with residents throughout the province, has cost taxpayers more than $563,000 to date.
In an emailed statement, Victor Boudreau, the minister responsible for Strategic Program Review, said it “was one of the largest engagement exercises undertaken in this province with thousands of New Brunswickers taking part” and the objective “was to raise awareness and start a conversation about how to address our financial challenges together.”
Progressive Conservative MLA Brian Macdonald says while government spending is unavoidable, he believes the process was a waste of taxpayer money.
“Democracy comes at a price always,” he said. “My concern with the Strategic Program Review is it didn’t yield any results.”
House sittings at the Ne Brunswick legislature will resume March 29 following a six-week hiatus.