The Newfoundland and Labrador Employers Council is expecting a placeholder budget with a general election on the horizon.

Executive Director Richard Alexander says despite that, serious measures must be taken to address the province’s deficit.

He says the province’s massive spending and debt problem is taking away the government’s ability to borrow money.

As for economic development, Alexander says rather than simply throwing money at the issue, he’d like to see the right incentives introduced to allow businesses to flourish.

He says sometimes it just creates a good environment and get out of the way and let the entrepreneurs of Newfoundland and Labrador do what they do best.