Corner Brook Mayor says "not much in the budget for our city"

Jim Parsons says there is not much there to see and he's surprised to see the deficit situation we are in and he certainly didn’t see anything aimed for our city.

Corner Brook Mayor Jim Parsons says the provincial budget released this week is a “steady as she goes kind of budget.” He didn’t expect to see any dramatic spending announcements in this budget, given the current Liberal leadership race and the upcoming election. Parsons says there is not much there to see and he's surprised to see the deficit situation we are in and he certainly didn’t see anything aimed for our city.

Newfoundland and Labrador will have a $372 million deficit this year while spending is projected at $11 billion. Meanwhile, during her budget speech, Finance Minister Siobhan Coady said “they expect shovels in the ground this year” on 50 new NL Housing units, a $20 million dollar announcement made in 2023. NL Housing recently stated they could not find a successful bidder and will be issuing more proposals for smaller units instead of one big project. The Mayor says the city is in desperate need for those units and it’s been a few years now. Former units have been demolished after being dormant for quite awhile. Parsons is holding government to their word that this will get moving. He doesn’t care how it gets done but says he just wants done.  

The budget did include $10 million to be spent on social housing in Corner Brook, Central, and Labrador. Mayor Parsons says he’s not sure of what’s involved but it won’t make any dramatic change.

Details of the budget can be found at gov.nl.ca