Cutting spending, encouraging growth focus of Dwight Ball's 'vision document'

The first phase of Premier Dwight Ball's "vision document": cutting spending and encouraging economic growth.

The premier says the first stage of the government's plan, released Wednesday afternoon, lasts six months and aims to reduce what Ball called "waste" and set service standards.

While no specific targets have been set, he told reporters there will be savings.

The government wants to cut spending through a "zero-based budgeting approach," reducing government-leased office space and a 20 per cent reduction in agencies, boards and commissions in the province by April 1, 2020.

"Reduction efforts will not include school districts or regional health authorities," said Ball.

There are also plans to increase the number of services offered online — currently, the government offers 33 program online — by 50 per cent by 2022.

Engineering and marketing services now spread through several departments are also being consolidated.

Phase 2

The second phase of the plan, a 12-month focus after Phase 1, will focus on "reversing negative socio-economic indicators that impede economic growth and drive government spending," said Ball. 

Ball said the second part of the plan follows three principles:

• Doing better with less
• Forming partnerships
• Challenging ourselves

Among targets in the second phase: A doubling of the aquaculture industry (in part to increase provincial food security). The government will also implement a "use it or lose it" approach to "stale" licence applications, which it said limits development for new and existing operators. 

Other goals include reducing the obesity rate by five per cent and the smoking rate by four per cent, while increasing the provincial rate of physical activity by seven per cent, all by 2025.

The government also wants to double 2009 levels of tourism spending by residents and visitors by 2020, increase immigration to an annual 1,700 people by 2022, and test night-time road work to minimize traffic disruption.

The "vision" document, which the premier said includes more than 50 initiatives, is the latest move by the Liberals to deal with the sky-high deficit and other fiscal challenges facing the province.

As each phase concludes, said Ball, the government will provide a "report card" on progress.

Mixed reaction

Richard Alexander, executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers' Council, called it a "positive message" for the province.

"They're putting a lot of initiatives out there that will, if they're followed through with, will save money for taxpayers," he said, adding the province's "report card" plan will help ensure success.

"They're also setting up a situation where they are going to make it very hard for them not to hit their own targets."

NDP Leader Earle McCurdy called the plan "long on generalities and platitudes" but short on specifics.

"I'd really be interested in, at some point, hearing the government address the question of jobs," he said. "I don't see anything in this to address that in any way. If people aren't working, they can't spend in the local economy, they don't support local businesses, and those dollars don't start turning over."

PC Leader Paul Davis said Wednesday's announcement contained nothing the government hasn't said before.

"They're kicking the can down the road, talking about reporting back in six months from now," he said. "Well, this should have been started six months ago. They obviously don't have a plan."

Asked if the document released Wednesday didn't constitute a plan, Davis said it looks more like an election campaign.

"No idea what the outcomes are going to be, no idea what the specifics are going to be," he said.