Fiscal Issues

BUDGET 2013. THE PAIN HAS ONLY BEGUN

John Meaney: Rant N' Roar Likely, I was not the only one with a sense of unease after last week’s Provincial Budget.  Two essential facts remain...

PLEASE INCLUDE CHANGE. A BUDGET PRIMER (Part II)

In "What The Premier Must Do. A Budget Primer (Part I)", I suggested a process in which the Premier should become engaged, in order to...

What the Premier Must Do. A Budget Primer (Part I)

Like a Throne Speech, a Budget ought to reflect the Government’s philosophy and ideas about how revenue should be generated and spent.  It should avoid ideology,...

BUDGET DEFICITS AND COMMON SENSE

“May you have sensible leadership”, is a mantra that ought to replace our copious use of the Chinese proverb, “May you live in interesting times”.  Most...

The Auditor General is Full of sh’Shakespeare

June 1, 2012:  Premier Kathy Dunderdale announced, today, the appointment of a new Auditor General for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.   ACT I: The Fairy Tale A-G Eight...

Finance Minister Does Not Understand Risk

The Budget Update, delivered yesterday, December 13, 2012, by the Finance Minister, acknowledges the mulitude of risks attacking the declining health of the Province's Teasury;...

Robbing Gnarley to Pay For Jacques

It was Uncle Gnarley who broached the idea of going to the upcoming mining conference at the old hotel.   I thought that it was a strange request...

NL Finance Minister Gets Downgrade (PART 2)

Last time, I discussed the Dominion Bond Rating Service (DBRS) Report which confirmed the “A” credit rating of the Province. The Minister of Finance, in making...