Premier Tony Wakeham says he’s very much looking forward to his first sitting of the House of Assembly on the government side of the legislature, and bringing in his first budget.

This afternoon’s Speech from the Throne will officially open the spring sitting of the legislature.

Premier Wakeham says he’s eager to deliver on commitments made during the fall election campaign.

“The people of the province elected us on a platform of better access to health care, lower taxes and safer communities and I’m looking forward on delivering on those commitments in the budget.”

The date for the budget has not yet been finalized.

Opposition Leader John Hogan says he’s eager to see what initiatives the Wakeham government intorduces rather than what they’re getting rid of as the House of Assembly sits for the first time in a year.

Hogan says until now, he’s heard little from government about what they plan to do, rather than what they’re not doing.

“I’d like to see more positive announcements” says Hogan. “It seems they spent the first five months making announcements about what they’re not going to do. They’re not going to build a hospital…St. Clare’s is well beyond its best before date, needs to be replaced. I’ve certainly seen reports on social media over the last week about leaky windows and cold rooms. That’s not delivering proper, modern health care for every body in this province. That’s why we as a government we made the decision to build a new hospital which I think is sorely needed.”

The NDP expects more of the same chirping in the House of Assembly as the legislature reopens this afternoon. Jim Dinn says the positions might have changed, but the personalities remain largely the same.

“It’s irritated me to no end to listen to it when we have so many major problems here.” says Dinn. “I would assume we’re going to see the same banter over Muskrat Falls” he laughs, “only with the added twist of the Churchill Falls MOU.”

He says the Liberals have been “trying to demonstrate how legitimate they are as an opposition, even advocating for things that they didn’t advocate for when they were in government.” He calls for the elimination of the HST on power bills as one example.

Lieutenant Governor Joan Marie Aylward will deliver the Speech from the Throne this afternoon at 2:00, officially marking the opening of the spring sitting of the House of Assembly.