Coady says "that is 1.5 percent of revenues which is a small deficit and government has been diligent about bringing it down."
NL’s deficit sits at $150 million. During a mid-summer economic update last week, Finance Minister Siobhan Coady says the goal is to get to no deficit. She says that is 1.5 percent of revenues which is a small deficit and government has been diligent about bringing it down. In her report, Coady highlighted employment is up and unemployment is down, retail and vehicle sales are up, the population is growing and housing starts have increased 100% so far this year. Coady says “government is working to make it easier in people by lowering the tax burden, and holding firm on fees, so we can put money back in people's pockets.” She says government’s future funds plan will help pay down the deficit which takes money from non-renewables and there’s almost $400 million in that fund this year which can easily pay off the deficit.