Cathy Bennett reveals few details about claimed savings

Liberal Finance Minister Cathy Bennett has revealed few details about her claim that the new Newfoundland and Labrador government has already saved $100 million in its cost-cutting exercise. 

• Liberals have shaved $100M in spending since taking office, says Cathy Bennett
• Government not ruling out layoffs as departments, agencies asked to trim 30%

Following some pressure from the Opposition Tuesday, Cathy Bennett said during question period that the government has saved money by rolling back political and administrative expenses.

The Liberals have faced questions following last week's surprise announcement they've found $100 million in discretionary savings since taking office last year.

"They include … things like reduction in political staff, reduction in salaries for jobs that we're not going to fill currently, the reduction in the use of consultants, the reduction in discretionary travel," Bennett in the House of Assembly.

'He'll be happy to see all the details of all those numbers when he gets to see the budget with the people of this province later on in this session.  - Finance Minister Cathy Bennett

Fuelled by the ongoing slump in the price of crude oil, the province is looking at a massive $1.9-billion deficit this current fiscal year. The Liberals are promising to take "corrective action," and all eyes are fixed on the coming budget.

Bennett has left the door open to layoffs in the public service as a way to cut expenses, despite a Liberal pledge in last year's election that there would be no layoffs. 

Bennett's answers on Tuesday weren't enough to satisfy PC Leader Paul Davis, who asked the government to produce an itemized list of the claimed savings.

"How can she identify savings while not providing the details to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador the exact details that she promised to table?" Davis said in the house. 

Bennett said all details would be released in the province's next budget, which should be released in the coming weeks. 

The province typically releases its budget after the federal budget, which is set to be presented on March 22.

"He'll be happy to see all the details of all of those numbers when he gets to see the budget with the people of this province later on in this session," she said.