MCNEIL: LIBERALS SAY NO TO NDP DEFICIT BUDGET
Date: Friday October 16, 2009

(Halifax, NS) Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says the Liberal Caucus
will vote no on the deficit budget tabled by the NDP government.

"We simply cannot justify endorsing a budget with a 592-million dollar
deficit created by the decisions of this government," said McNeil. "In
spite of what this government says, this budget is their budget. The
majority of the deficit is their deficit. And their decisions are
adding to the provincial debt."

McNeil points out that more than 353 million dollars is being paid for
a bill that is not due until April 1st of next year. This decision will
cost Nova Scotians millions in unnecessary interest and debt servicing
charges. Another 81 million has been added to the deficit to purchase
land. And another $54 million is in a restructuring fund to deal with
H1N1 and wage negotiations.

There are other smaller ticket items added to the deficit, but just
these three decisions by this NDP government amount to $488 million of
that $590 million deficit.

"By any reasonable definition, that lays this deficit squarely at the
feet of the NDP government. The resulting increase to the provincial
debt rests there as well," said McNeil.

"The goal of the NDP government has been to artificially inflate the
deficit and blame it on the former government. By voting no to this
budget, we are refusing to go along with that charade."

The vote on the budget is expected Monday night.


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