The province’s financial hole could be growing larger.
At the end of August, the government released the first financial update of the year and it showed a deficit of $292 million. At that time, the cost of the wildfires had yet to be tabulated and crop insurance numbers weren’t in.
Finance Minister Kevin Doherty admits each ministry and the Crowns are looking at efficiencies.
“Do you need to fill the vacancies? Can we look at overtimes, vacation liabilities, travel and advertising?”
As far as Doherty is aware, those efficiencies remain within government.
“Have we pulled back operating dollars from third parties? Not to my knowledge.”
He hopes agencies will be looking to operate within the constraints of the budget they have been allocated for this fiscal year.
The next financial update is expected by the end of November.