Premier to hold fiscal consultations; promises understanding, confidence

The premier of Newfoundland and Labrador is promising to provide a better understanding of government's fiscal plan at an event in St. John's in October.

In a video released Wednesday afternoon, Premier Dwight Ball says government will hold a wide-ranging discussion at The Rooms on Oct. 11.

"I'm excited about the possibilities that will result from this discussion," Ball said.

"It will build an understanding of the intended approach that government will use to guide future actions. It will build confidence into our long-term outlook for Newfoundland and Labrador."

A spokesperson for the Premier's Office said the event is not the fiscal update government has been promising.

But an invite for the October event said it would be the "largest in a series of significant fall events intended to provide a comprehensive look at the provincial government's plans for the future."

That series will include a forum on local government and a fall fiscal update.

In the spring budget speech, which announced a tough tax-raising agenda, Finance Minister Cathy Bennett promised more actions would be taken in a "supplemental budget" this fall.

However government appears to have since changed its tune, with Ball recently refusing to use the term "supplemental budget" or "mini-budget" in a recent scrum with reporters.