Province Expands Ban on Year-End Spending

TREASURY/POLICY BOARD--Province Expands Ban on Year-End Spending Sprees

The province has expanded a ban on year-end spending to include all departments, agencies and boards.

A government directive effective today, Feb. 7, prohibits unplanned, unbudgeted, year-end spending, or the so-called March Madness.

Last year, the measure was applied at the departmental level. The new ban widens the restriction to include agencies and boards, including school boards and district health authorities.

"We must manage taxpayer dollars wisely if government is to live within its means," said Deputy Premier and Treasury Board chair Frank Corbett. "We must make sure that any savings achieved throughout the year are going to improve the province's bottom line. As the finance minister says, a penny saved must be a penny saved –- not a penny spent elsewhere."

The broader directive continues efforts by government to eliminate a structural deficit that was estimated to reach $1.4 billion by 2014.

"Overall, our efforts have saved more than $500 million towards closing that gap," Mr. Corbett said. "It has taken much hard work, but there are still many more hard days and tough decisions to come as we put together a spring budget."

Finance Minister Graham Steele is travelling around the province this month 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 read a Back to Balance information guide and submit comments to the finance minister at www.backtobalance.ca.