Higgs warns nothing immune in deficit fight

Finance Minister Blaine Higgs told a Saint John public meeting on Monday night that nothing is immune as the Progressive Conservative government cuts its massive deficit.

The New Brunswick government is forecasting an $820-million deficit for 2010-11 and Higgs has warned the deficit could top $1-billion if urgent action isn't taken.

Higgs announced on Friday the government was trimming almost $43 million from the budget.

Higgs hosted the first of 10 public meetings Monday night in Saint John to set priorities for the provincial budget. The pre-budget meeting drew a crowd of more 100 people.

Higgs said he was impressed with the turnout, but he said he wants to hear more of what New Brunswick citizens are willing to live without as he tries to trim spending.

"The areas they're saying don't touch are 60 per cent of our budget 60, 70 per cent," Higgs said.

"You can't just push that aside and say don't touch that and still meet your[deficit-reduction]targets."

Higgs's comment comes after many people who showed up at the public meetings came with a list of items they did not want cut as the provincial government tries to cut its ballooning deficit.

'My expectation to you is to go out, no sacred cows.' John Campbell

There were advocates for almost every government program and service, including the New Brunswick Liquor Corp.

Deborah Hayward, an official from the Canadian Union of Public Employees, who represents NB Liquor staff, said that liquor corporation must remain in public hands.

Daniel Allain, the president of NB Liquor, discussed the idea of restructuring the Crown corporation after being appointed last fall.

"[NB Liquor generates] $150 million per year, is it worth selling that ongoing guaranteed profit for one time short term gain?I believe not," Hayward said.

Meanwhile, citizens such as John Campbell, who introduced himself to the crowd as a grandfather, said he hoped Higgs would find ways to eliminate the province's deficit.

"My expectation to you is to go out, no sacred cows. Look at everything with in mind that you're doing it for the children, not for these people here because if you're doing it for these people here, those children will be gone," Campbell said.

MLA pensions criticized

Several speakers questioned the Progressive Conservative government's commitment to spending cuts given that in 2008 provincial politicians voted for pay changes that increased their pension benefits.

Higgs, who was not a MLA when the pension program was changed,said the entire pension system is being re-evaluated by the provincial government.

"The whole process is analyzing where we are on the pensions, private and public sectors," Higgs said.

"We have a liability in our public pension plan that's a very much concern. And we're looking at every aspect including the whole MLA package and pension, so what I'm saying is nothing is off the table."