State of
NL
Economy
Expenditu
re
Managem
ent
Leadershi
p Debate
Oct. 14,
2015
Income
Distributi
on
Growth &
Innovatio
n
economy should be less dependent on oil and gas and more diversified. Can
you please give us your views on whether greater diversification is needed?
If you support greater diversification, what specific policies would you
implement to diversify the economy and what role do you envision for
education and R&D?
Question 4: Nearly 50% of the most recent provincial budget was allocated
to healthcare and education. As well, recent CIHI data indicate that per
capita expenditures in Newfoundland and Labrador on healthcare have
grown faster than in any other province, and, according to the Auditor
General, the provinces per capita expenditures have exceeded the national
average by approximately 45%. It appears that public sector expenditures in
Newfoundland and Labrador are unsustainable. Would you agree with this
characterization and, if so, how do you plan to deal with this situation? If
part of your solution is to raise revenues, please outline where these
revenues would come from and how your policies to increase revenues would
affect the average voter? Does your plan involve real cuts to healthcare and
post-secondary education and, if not, which areas would you cut? Please be
specific.