There are more hints of what may be coming in the Wakeham government’s first budget due in the coming weeks.

The opposition Liberals have been questioning the PC’s on what would be in the budget, but government has provided little details.

The Premier once again provided some clues as to what to expect in response to questions from the opposite side of the House during Question Period yesterday.

“What about the Home Heat Rebate program?” Wakeham said. “They (the Opposition) forgot to tell everybody that they had no intentions of putting that back in the budget. What about the tax fees on motor registration, that they had nothing put in the budget for? All of these measures that they talk about to reduce taxes, they had no plan to continue with that. We will.”

No Hints on Benefits for Early Childhood Educators

Meanwhile, the provincial government won’t say if pensions, wage increases and sick leave for early childhood educators will be included in this spring’s budget, but does say it remains committed to ensuring that ECEs do get those benefits.

The issue was raised by Opposition Leader John Hogan in the House of Assembly yesterday.

“Early childhood educators were promised pensions and wage increases, and he continues to focus on the Blue Book,” Hogan said of Education Minister Paul Dinn. “Will the promises in the Blue Book make it into the budget, so will you not deliver on the promises you made?” A member of the Liberal Party chirped that “You’re the government now!” as Hogan was taking his seat.

Premier Tony Wakeham standing to respond said “we are the government because the people of Newfoundland and Labrador put their faith in us…we will commit to the things that we put in our Blue Book and we will get them done.”