'Think before you cut:' Pre-budget advice laid at Corner Brook meeting

About 80 people gathered Tuesday night in Corner Brook to share their ideas on how the Newfoundland and Labrador government can save money.

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"I think it's important that we do speak, because we are in a fiscal crisis," said Janice Kennedy, executive director of the Bay St. George Status of Women Council.

"But I think it's important that we have a discussion, and that we don't react by cutting things without thinking through those consequences."

The so-called public engagement session was the second in a series planned by the Liberal government, which has asked departments and agencies for ideas to reduce spending by 30 per cent.

"Be sure to invest in our non-profit sector. We are actually quite an economic driver," said Kennedy, who argued for increased resources.

"We have been frozen for four years, and as they've been cutting our frontline services in the public sector, we've been getting downloaded with many services."

During tough economic times, Kennedy said her group sees an increase in demand.

"We do see an increase in intimate partner violence. We see an increase in the need for affordable housing and food security, and it's already getting busier."

'Think outside the box'

Pasadena Mayor Otto Goulding said it's important to "think outside the box" in tough financial times, and ask which programs or projects government should be involved in.

"There are projects that we can't afford right now, or it appears we are having difficulty doing, things such as the tunnel across the Belle Isle straits and possibly the hospital, whether here or the one in St. John's," Goulding said.

"Can we not look at the possibility of having private business involved in this?"

Goulding argued that the big projects would stimulate the economy, which he feels will bounce back — eventually.

"We are still fairly resource rich ... we still have a number of opportunities if we can get over the current situation."

Both Goulding and Kennedy liked the format of the engagement session, which saw small groups gather for discussion and then report back to the room.

"You never get a chance to express all of your views, but the people were really engaged and I think people realize the situation we are in is not generated by the current government or the last government. This is a global situation," said Goulding.

"We were able to exchange ideas, build on each other's viewpoints, [and] challenge each other," said Kennedy.

"I hope they're [government] listening," she said. "Think before you cut."