The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance:

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this honourable house today to ask residents to share their bold ideas on ways to strengthen, improve, and transform our provincial finances in advance of Budget 2021. The portal to provide comment, which first opened in January, will be available for submissions until April 30, 2021.

Harnessing the creativity, ingenuity and tenacity of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will help forge a path forward and tackle the important issues facing our province.

Together, we can build a better future.

We will modernize and transform government, address our structural challenges and move forward with strength.

Mr. Speaker, we have spoken with a multitude of stakeholders including community, municipal, business and labour leaders. We have received many engagements with citizens.

Now have your say on how to transform and strengthen this great province. We welcome big, bold ideas on reducing the province’s deficit, minimizing the impact on public services, and contributing to a more diversified and growing economy. This insight, as well as the recommendations of the Premier’s Economic Recovery Team and Health Accord NL, will help to inform our path forward.

I encourage residents to submit their ideas on modernizing government online at engagenl.ca or by email at Budget2021@gov.nl.ca by April 30.