Province Extends Ban on Year-End Spending

The province is once again banning year-end spending for all departments, agencies and boards.

A government directive effective today, Feb. 3, prohibits unplanned, unbudgeted, year-end spending, or the so-called March Madness.

"Living within our means is now the mindset of government," said Deputy Premier and Treasury Board chair Frank Corbett. "Any savings achieved throughout the year needs to go directly to the province's bottom line."

This is the third year for the ban, which was expanded last year to include agencies, school boards and district health authorities. The past two years, total spending has come in under budget, the first time in 23 years that Nova Scotia has had back-to-back underspending of the budget.

Ending March Madness is one of many tactics undertaken by government to live within its means. Others include holding the line on spending, reducing debt-servicing costs and implementing the change and innovation fund.

Such efforts have brought savings of $170 million this fiscal year alone, savings that help the province now, and will pay off in the years ahead.

"The province has made significant progress to get back to balance and sustain that balance into the future," Mr. Corbett said. "But Nova Scotia will continue to face fiscal challenges if we do not continue to follow the multi-year fiscal plan."

Finance Minister Graham Steele is travelling around the province for pre-budget consultations. He wants to hear the views of Nova Scotians on the province's efforts to get back to balance and live within its means.

Nova Scotians can try balancing the provincial budget and submit cost-saving ideas to the finance minister at www.backtobalance.ca