Yvonne Jones — Submitted photo

Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones likes a lot of what she saw in today’s budget, but noted that further work is needed to address issues that remain outstanding for the people of the province.
Finance Minister Jerome Kennedy brought down the provincial budget today at the House of Assembly. The budget includes significant increases in spending for health and education, while running a deficit of about $750.
Total spending is forecast at $6.7-billion.
“This budget appears to be an attempt to help heal some of the wounds from major issues facing the people of the province,” Jones said. “We were very pleased to see initiatives addressing home care, the elimination of interest on provincial student loans, prison services, and facilities to treat addictions and mental illness for youth.
“Government also started to make some investment into dealing with the recommendations contained in the Cameron Report, but they certainly did not go far enough in outlining a plan to deal with all 60 recommendations in a timely manner.”
Jones expressed disappointment with some issues remaining that were not addressed by government, including the lack of a new penitentiary, very little funding to help the fishing industry address new economic challenges and no enhancements to the medical transportation assistance program.
“I am also very disappointed with government’s approach to central Newfoundland and the closure of the mill in Grand Falls-Windsor,” she said. “Today’s budget failed to outline any real strategies or solutions to help the region or displaced workers. The relocation of administrative programs currently conducted in St. John’s will only result in transferring jobs from one region to another.
“The infrastructure funding announced for the central region certainly isn’t specific as a stimulus, the same program is being applied to communities all over the province. Whether the mill closed or not, I would have expected an equal amount of funding to have been allocated in central Newfoundland for infrastructure this year. There certainly should have been a much more concrete plan of action unveiled by government.”
More budget reaction in Friday’s Telegram.