MLAs return to legislature

Nova Scotia's MLAs are heading back to the legislature Thursday for a spring session focused around budget cuts.

The speech from the throne at 2 p.m. will signal the start of a new legislative session, though the governing New Democrats aren't expected to change direction.

"We are meeting the targets that we have set out," said Premier Darrell Dexter.

"We have gone through the exercise of putting that information out to the district health authorities, out to the school boards in advance. So for those organizations, for the municipalities, there won't be any surprises when the budget comes down."

Finance Minister Graham Steele has already told Nova Scotians to expect a deficit between $300 million and $400 million.

Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie said the budget should be balanced.

"If there is one province that needs to get its financial house in order first it is Nova Scotia. And for that reason I think that it will only become meaningful and real to citizens if we make it a matter of law," Baillie said.

The Tories plan to introduce a bill that would make it illegal to run a deficit.

But the Liberals won't support it, said party leader Stephen McNeil.

"It comes down to leadership. As you saw what happened if the government wants to change the law, they change the law. I don't think you need a law to do the right thing," McNeil said.

McNeil said budgets should be balanced. If the Tories hadn't overspent during their time in office, he said, the province's finances would be in much better shape today.

The NDP governmentwill table its 2011-12 budget on Tuesday.

The party has promised a balanced budget by 2013.