The Higgs government revealing a capital budget valued at $600.6 million for 2019-2020.
The estimates include more than $60 million for building and repairing schools, over $123 million to improve provincial hospitals, $321 million to maintain transportation assets and $12.9 million for tourism.
Today in the Legislative Assembly a $600.6 million capital budget was tabled for 2019-20 that aims to maintain infrastructure, restore balance to government finances and manage the province’s debt. https://t.co/jfx79v7vHr pic.twitter.com/5ON5KxwWc6
— Government of NB (@Gov_NB) December 11, 2018
Finance Minister Ernie Steeves says in order to balance the books by March 2020 or sooner, they have to take action now and make some hard decisions about what they can afford.
“One way we can energize the private sector is by demonstrating strong fiscal discipline and setting clear expectations of the role of government when it comes to public capital investment around the province.”
The coronary care unit project at the Moncton Hospital, the refurbishment of the intensive care, surgical and oncology units at the Regional Hospital in Saint John and a maternal-newborn renovation project at the Edmundston Regional Hospital have all been delayed by the province.
