Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Nouveau-Brunswick 48e 3e Discours sur le Budget 15 mars 1977 M. Lawrence Garvie Ministre des Finances PC Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure to present to you, to this Legislative Assembly, and to all the people of New Brunswick, the budget for 1977-78. This budget, indeed all budgets, must be a compromise among various demands and needs, for it is beyond the financial capacity of any government to do all those things that are expected of it. Because of the economic conditions that face all Canadians today, this budget has required particularly tough decisions. Nevertheless, I believe that it is a document that goes to the heart of the problems that face us and the opportunities that lie ahead. It is in every sense of the word a budget of the government, for the extensive consultations that take place in arriving at a budget ensures that the views of all ministers are reflected in it. I am proud to present it to you. This budget addresses squarely one of the most difficult tasks confronting governments everywhere in this country-that is, meeting the needs of people without themselves creating inflation through absorbing a larger share of the economic pie. The government believes that the public interest is best served at this time by limiting the growth of the public sector, increasing government efficiency, and creating a climate favourable to individual initiative and enterprise. The procedures followed in establishing the budget enable a thorough review of expenditure programs with a view to increasing efficiency and changing priorities, and they facilitate a review of various revenue programs with a view to increasing fairness and equity among taxpayers. The government of New Brunswick attaches high priority to maintaining a financially sound position. You will see that this budget is financially prudent and well within the means of the province. Mr. Speaker, before speaking on the budget plan, I would like to review the budgetary situation for the current year and to discuss important developments in federal/provincial finance. Last year at this time the government brought down a budget which forecast an Ordinary Account surplus of $32.4 million, an increase in the net debt of $68.6 million and financial requirements of $135.7 million. The revenue and expenditure estimates in that budget plan were based on an economic forecast' which anticipated moderate growth. That forecast now appears to have been too optimistic. The result has been a down ward revision of our revenue and an upward revision of our expenditure estimates. In turn, we expect a smaller Ordinary Account surplus and larger financial requirements. A year ago the economies of the major industrialized countries of the western world were expected to experience a modest recovery from the severe recession of 1975. These expectations were realized during the first half of 1976. However, a substantial slowdown became evident after mid- year. For example, after a surge of 9.2 per cent in the first quarter, the United States economy slowed to a real annual growth rate of 3.0 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year, closing the year with an annual growth rate of 6.5 per cent. These trends in international economic conditions had their influence 011 the Canadian economy. The pace of economic recovery in Canada was slower in 1976 than expected a year ago. Personal consumer expenditures grew at rates below annual for this stage of the business cycle. Further, real fixed business investment will have declined slightly during the year. Combined with significant restraint in the government sector, these conditions contributed to lower real growth-in the order of four and three-quarters per cent to five per cent, a figure below last spring's expectations. There was a substantial slowing of price increases, down to a 7-1/2 per cent increase in 1976, from about 11 per cent in 1975. As was the case elsewhere in Canada, economic conditions in New Brunswick during 1976 were not as favourable as originally forecast. Gross Provincial Product is now estimated to have increased by only 12.6 per cent, compared to a forecast range of l3-l{2 to 1 5-l{2 per cent. Real growth of only 2.7 per cent is now expected, compared to a forecast of between three and five per cent. Personal incomes and retail trade will probably be in the 12 per cent growth range, instead of the 15 per cent range originally anticipated. As a result, revenues have been lower than forecast. Many of our provincially generated revenues are expected to be lower than expected because of slower growth in incomes and in consumption expenditures. Equalization payments are also expected to be lower because of sluggish performance in the economies of other provinces. On balance, we anticipate revenues to be some $406 million below the forecast level of 1976-77. Unfortunately, these same economic conditions placed greater than normal pressures on expenditures. We expect social service expenditures to be above the original estimate. We also expect above ;average losses from our business assistance programs. Debt charges in turn will be higher than anticipated because of higher than expected borrowing and lower income from short- term investments. In summary, Ordinary Account expenditures are now expected to be some $19.6 million above the original forecast for 1976-77. Let me stress that this is only two per cent above that forecast. Though the final figures are not yet in, we now expect a small Ordinary Account surplus of some $8 million. Capital expenditures will be down by some $15 million due largely to under- expenditures in the General Development Agreement. The estimated increase in the net debt will be in the order of $93 million. A higher level of net loans and advances added to the overall deficit will mean that financial requirements will rise to $171 million for the current year. Given the pressures on expenditures in 1976-77, I am very pleased to report that the restraint program which the government announced a year ago has been very successful. In the fiscal year 1975-76 the rate of growth of ordinary expenditures was 26.4 per cent. Despite the additional expenditures that have been incurred this year, we expect a growth rate of only 13.6 per cent for the current year over the actual figures for last year. There is therefore no doubt that the restraint program is working, and working well. An examination of the main estimates will reveal that the few over-expenditures which have occurred have been almost entirely due to poor economic conditions. The Treasury Board and all departments are to be congratulated on the efficient and effective manner in which they have managed provincial expenditures during a very difficult fiscal year. Mr. Speaker, I want to spend a few moments discussing one aspect of the over-expenditures which are contained in the revised estimates. These are the write-offs for industrial loans or loan guarantees. The total value of industrial loan write-offs in 1976-77 is estimated at $11 million. It is an unfortunate fact of life that firms go out of business during trying economic times and that all involved, including governments, lose their investments. The government of New Brunswick has taken calculated risks in this field in order to create or protect permanent jobs. Because the government assumes a risk, there are losses; but if no risks were taken, there would not be as many successes and there would be fewer jobs. We therefore make no apology for our actions in this regard. Current losses reflect recent business conditions. It is unfortunate that a recession arrived at a point in time when many firms in this province were going through the difficult start-up phase of their operations. The government of this province may, and often does, lend more money to a firm to see it through a difficult time. However, there will always be instances where the only sensible course of action is to let market forces do their work and allow firms to go out of business. I am sure all New Brunswickers would like to see all business ventures succeed, but it is often not possible. Mr. Speaker, following normal practice, the House will be presented with a bill setting out special warrants issued during the 1976-77 fiscal year in respect of the budgetary and non-budgetary accounts. Mr. Speaker, I would like to spend a few moments reviewing the capital financing program of the province during the current fiscal year. Interest rates in the United States and European capital markets declined in 1976 while in Canada the central bank maintained a policy of combating inflation through relatively high interest rates and restraint in the growth of the money supply. An unusually wide gap developed between Canadian and foreign interest rates which induced Canadian governments, government agencies and corporations to borrow record amounts of money in the United States and Eurodollar capital markets. Since mid-November, interest rates in Canada have declined and it seems likely that Canadian borrowers may be making more extensive use of the domestic bond market in 1977 than was the case in 1976. During the fiscal year 1976-77, the province borrowed a total of $163.43 million of funded debt from the following sources: -$45.18 million of 20-year debentures issued to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Fund at interest rates ranging from 8.73 per cent to 9.25 per cent; -$8.25 million of 7.95 per cent debentures due in 1996 issued to the federal government under the winter capital projects fund program; -$75 million of 8-3/4 per cent debentures due in the year 2001 issued in United States dollars on the United States public market, and -$35 million of 8-3/4 per cent notes due in 1983 issued in United States dollars on the Eurodollar market. The average interest rate on all these issues was 8.78 per cent. During the fiscal year, the province also guaranteed the equivalent of $231.3 million of debentures issued by the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission for its record capital construction program. These issues were as follows: -$100 million of 9-3/8 per cent debentures due in the year 2001 issued in United States dollars on the United States public market; -$31.3 million of six per cent bonds due in 1991 issued in Swiss francs on the Swiss public market, and -$100 million of nine per cent debentures due in 1997 which were recently issued in United States dollars on the United States private market. The province also guaranteed $44.1 million of notes issued to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited by the Powet Commission in connection with the financing of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station. In September of last year, the province and the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission jointly sponsored a two-day tour of New Brunswick by 37 investment bankers and representatives of United States investment institutions. Visits were made to the Saint John, Fredericton and Bathurst areas and I know that the participants in the tour were favourably impressed with what they saw and heard. It was also gratifying to learn that a second major New York bond rating agency had improved its rating of the province of New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission bond issues from A to A+. The results of the past year's financing program indicate that both the province and the Power Commission continue to enjoy favourable markets for their bond issues and that investors approve of the economic and financial policies that the government is following. Federal/Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Hon. members are aware that important negotiations concerning federal/provincial fiscal arrangements were concluded by First Ministers last December. I am, of course, referring to the negotiations on established programs financing and the Federal/provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, including the revenue guarantee program. These negotiations involved very large intergovernmental transfers and will affect the quality of education, health and other services in all provinces. To ensure full disclosure of these new arrangements, hon. members will find a Budget Paper in the budget documents which describes specifically what was agreed to as well as the implications for New Brunswick taxpayers. Mr. Speaker, I wish that I could say that I was fully satisfied with the outcome of those negotiations. Unfortunately, I can't do that. Instead, I must confess to having very mixed feelings about the new agreements. On the positive side, the new arrangements provide a number of benefits and maintain some important principles of national taxation. The tax collection agreements are being continued, which means that the federal government will continue to collect our personal and corporate income taxes free of charge. The revenue stabilization arrangements are being continued. These make our bonds more attractive since the federal government guarantees that revenues subject to equalization will not fall below the level of the previous year. The principle of equalization, so important to less developed provinces, is being retained, essentially in its present form. In effect, the federal government continues to recognize the need to equalize the revenue capacity of provinces across the country, so that an adequate level of public service can be provided to all Canadians at reasonable levels of taxation. As for the new established programs financing. arrangements, federal contributions towards major health programs and postsecondary education are no longer based on what we spend. Because of this, provinces will have a strong incentive to hold down costs, since provincial spending levels will no longer determine the amount of federal dollars which are received. Another benefit of the new arrangements is that provincial priorities will no longer be distorted by the availability of federal dollars. These positive elements of the new fiscal arrangements must be set against a number of disadvantages. Early in these negotiations it became quite clear to all provinces that the federal government was not prepared to conduct the negotiations in a spirit of compromise. In session after session the federal government stated its position, never deviating from its course, despite many justifiable provincial suggestions. Late in the negotiations, after a great deal of give and take, all 10 provinces finally reached an unprecedented provincial consensus. This was presented to the federal government as a fair compromise among the differing viewpoints held by both the federal government and the provinces. However, this consensus was rejected out of hand by the federal government. I think the federal government's motivation was a very simple one. It wanted to save money at the expense of the provinces. The federal Cabinet had made up its mind to stop sharing in the actual provincial costs for hospital services, medicare and postsecondary education. It had made up its mind to get out of the revenue guarantee program, which it was getting too expensive. I would remind the House that the revenue guarantee: was established in 1972 to protect the provinces from any revenue losses which might result from the changes in the tax system introduced at that time. The abandonment of this program was widely regarded, therefore, as a breach of faith. The federal government had also decided to reform the equalization program in order to reduce the future size of overall payments to the provinces. I want to remind hon. members that the equalization formula has been altered so that only about 50 per cent of all non-renewable resource revenues will now be equalized. As well, a ceiling has been placed on the total amount of equalization payable on revenues derived from both non-renewable and renewable resources. The above restrictions, combined with some other technical changes, will result in lower revenue in 1977-78 than we would have otherwise received. I have already said that the federal government will no longer share in the actual costs incurred by provinces for health care, medicare and postsecondary education. Instead, we will receive cash contributions and revenue from tax points which will grow at a rate unrelated to the rate of growth of our program costs. That also means that extra federal assistance will no longer be available to poorer provinces that want to catch up to richer provinces by raising the quality and standards of these services. There is no doubt that rapid development of low cost health care programs will be very difficult to achieve under these circumstances. Mr. Speaker, we have to conclude that the financial negotiations were not entirely satisfactory from the point of view of the less developed provinces. The federal government missed a great opportunity by not accepting the provincial consensus. Had it done so, it would have contributed significantly at no great cost to strengthening the spirit of national unity across the country, a spirit that is so badly needed today. I would now like to turn to a discussion of the budget plan for 1977- 78. Budget Our recent experience in Canada with inflation and recession has been a sobering one. It should remind us that wealth depends on the ability to produce. It has clearly shown us that government cannot expand beyond a certain size without creating inflationary pressures, that government must not erode the incentive for individuals and industries to be efficient and productive. Our encounter with the whirlwind of inflation has reminded us of our collective responsibilities to the weak and unprotected in our society who are inflation's main victims. I think all members of the Canadian community have been reminded of the need for fiscal responsibility and the legacy that we as individuals and governments leave to future generations. While we have made significant progress in dealing with inflation, it will be a force to contend with for some time. Furthermore, the Canadian economy has not returned to its full growth potential. Although the economy of New Brunswick is expected to grow slightly faster than that of Canada in 1977, it too will operate below potential. Unemployment will improve slightly, but will continue to be a problem in this province. Within the constraints imposed by the need to control inflation the budget plan develops measures for dealing with circumstances which we foresee for 1977 and 1978. Specifically the plan for the budget is designed to accomplish four basic goals: 1. To ensure that the provincial government's share of Gross Provincial Product does not increase. Consequently the growth in the budget will be limited to the rate of growth in the economy. However, this goal will be achieved selectively, by reducing the growth in programs that are of lowest priority to New Brunswickers. 2. To facilitate the creation of job opportunities. Our foremost concern is that all money spent in this area should contribute to the creation of permanent jobs. Therefore, much of what we propose is directed toward creating permanent and fulfilling employment for the people of this province. 3. To maintain and strengthen our already sound financial position. Governments must always be aware of the obligations they are passing on to the future. The results of proposals outlined here will reduce the burden on future taxpayers. 4. To ensure equity and fairness in the tax structure and to reduce the tax burden on many New Brunswickers. This will help to create a climate that will favour individual initiative and enterprise. I shall now deal with each of these components of the budget plan in some detail. Restriction of the Growth of the Government Sector Control of the growth of the public sector is not just words to this government. It is a very real fact of life. As I mentioned earlier, the government has reduced the rate of growth of Ordinary Account expenditures from 26.4 per cent in 1975-76 to an estimated 13.6 per cent for the current year. For 1977-78 we intend to achieve a further reduction in the rate of growth of these expenditures to 11.9 per cent, a rate within the range forecast for Gross Provincial Product. The government has been selective in reducing the overall rate of growth. Some programs of particular importance will grow by more than 11.9 per cent while others will be held to a much lower rate. This selective application of restraint has been accomplished through the work of several committees of Cabinet. An example of this selective process is the 34.6 per cent increase granted to the Community Improvement Corporation, to enable departments to implement job creation measures and to broaden the economic base. In contrast, the big spending departments-Education, Health and Social Services-were held to rates of growth not exceeding 10 per cent. It should be clear that unless restraint is exercised in these three departments, which comprise almost 52 per cent of our spending budget, it would be next to impossible to rearrange priorities or to find money to expand services in higher priority areas. Another example comes to mind. The Official Languages Branch has been given the responsibility to monitor the implementation of the remaining sections of the Act. An additional $1 million has been budgeted in the 1977-78 fiscal year for such purposes. Seventy man-years have been allotted to the official languages program to be distributed together with the necessary funds to various departments according to their already expressed needs. Mr. Speaker, let me elaborate on why it is so necessary to restrain the growth of the public sector. First, we want to continue the fight against inflation. As part of our cooperative efforts with the federal government in the national anti-inflation program, we took a number of steps to ensure that the rate of increase in government spending came down. And we have asked municipalities to share responsibility for achieving this goal. We intend to continue, for, like many others, we believe that growth of the public sector's share of the economy is inflationary and must be curbed. Restraint is also beneficial from a broader perspective. If the public sector is allowed to expand more than the economy as a whole, the result is a transfer of real resources from the private sector to the government. This is the opposite to what we aim to achieve. That is why we have consistently cut taxes during the past six years. In my view there is little doubt that such a policy has been helpful in attracting and retaining businesses in our province. Finally, restraint in government spending makes it clear to everyone that they should not seek to solve all social and economic problems by turning to government. There is no substitute for private initiative. We believe that people, given the opportunity, will do far more for themselves by private endeavour than any government can do on their behalf. Various internal control and economy measures have been adopted as part of our effort to reduce the costs of operating government. I would like to briefly discuss some of these. Last year, the government changed the reporting of employment in the public service from positions to man-years. The concept of man-years is significant because it reflects all types of employees, regular, casual, part-time or seasonal, and not just civil service positions. In this way an accurate measure of the size of actual employment in the public service can be obtained. In the coming year, a total of 82 new man-years will be added to the civil service. This is an increase of less than one per cent and is entirely for new programs. For the second year in a row there is no growth in man-years for existing programs. I want to congratulate all those managers who have done so much to assist in achieving this highly desirable objective. Another major element of our restraint policy is the control of costs which are incurred to support employees in their jobs. These are made up of such expenses as heat, light, rent, travel and supplies. We have consciously tried to limit these expenses to an extremely low rate of growth. Throughout the government economies have been implemented which have reduced the growth of these expenses below the rate of inflation. A related and vital aspect of restraint policy is our effort to control the growth of the government's wage and salary costs. The projected rate of increase for next year is about two-thirds the rate of increase for the current year. Mr. Speaker, we will continue to bargain fairly. We will continue to provide reasonable wages to our employees, having regard to our ability to pay, the state of our economy, wage rates being paid for comparable jobs in the province, and our desire to provide quality services to the public. We must attract and retain good employees. But we are not a rich province. All of our citizens, including public servants, must temper expectations with a realistic attitude. As of March 1 we had 19 contracts in various stages of negotiation. Only three contracts had been signed in the past year. This is not because our wage rates or offers are bad. Our offers are reasonable. Nor is it because we are sticking arbitrarily and unreasonably to the AIB guidelines. Rather, it appears there is an expectation that if certain groups hold out long enough the government will finally grant them what they want. We are going to be reasonable, but we are not going to be irresponsible. This government will not saddle provincial taxpayers with the burden of meeting the exorbitant demands of special interest groups. This can only lead to a further round of inflationary wage and price increases with which we simply could not live, and they could only be paid for by a round of tax increases. Creation of Job Opportunities Mr. Speaker, I would now like to discuss the second goal of the budget-to facilitate job creation and economic development. The principal objective of this government since taking office has been to expand the economic base and to generate employment. It is only through this process that jobs will be available for New Brunswickers in their native province; it is through this process that our tax base can be developed to make us less dependent on transfers from the federal government. Unemployment throughout the Atlantic region has always been relatively high. And as we have seen, in a recession it will be even higher. In other words, there are currently two dimensions to unemployment: one has to do with our industrial structure and the lack of job opportunities that are inherent in it; the second has to do with the recent recession, in which job opportunities have grown more slowly than the labour force. Mr. Speaker, this government has developed a clear strategy that is part of this budget, to deal with these two aspects of unemployment. First, we will not be sidetracked from our long-term goal of creating permanent jobs through expanding the industrial base. In fact, the most desirable way of dealing with a short-term increase in the unemployment rate is to increase emphasis on programs for long-term job creation. This is a key element in our budget plan. Before I leave this matter, I would like to review our success in long-term job creation so that the current recessionary situation can be seen in its proper context. Since 1971, employment in this province has grown by 34,000 which is an increase of over 17 per cent. Investment has risen from a level of $635.7 million in 1971 to $1,414.6 million in 1976. While there has been little growth in investment during the recession, it nevertheless remains at a very high level. In 1977, the New Brunswick economy is expected to grow at a slightly higher rate than the Canadian economy. Anticipated real growth is in the 3.5 to 4.5 per cent range, with most of the gains expected in the last six months of the year. In current dollars this means an increase of between 10.8 per cent and 11.9 per cent. For the second year in a row investment is not expected to playa major role in stimulating economic growth in the province. We are still adjusting from the extremely high levels of investment in the 1972-75 period. However, recent reductions in the bank rate and an improved profit picture may have the effect of stimulating more investment in the commercial and manufacturing sectors, although the impact is not expected until toward the end of the year. Because we anticipate a slightly lower rate of growth in population, the labour force is not expected to grow as fast as it has in the past. However, employment will grow slightly faster than in 1976 and the unemployment rate should decline- slightly. Given the current unemployment levels resulting from the recession, all of our attention cannot be placed on long-term job creation. Therefore, a record capital budget of $178.7 Infilling is planned for next year which will contribute substantially to the number of jobs available in the coming months. At the same time these expenditures will contribute to the total capital stock of the province, and thus make it more attractive to industry. Some of these capital expenditures will also directly stimulate economic development. As well as the large capital outlays in economic development, the budget plan outlines significant increases in Ordinary Account expenditures for economic development. Ministers responsible for various departments will outline all measures which will be taken to stimulate the economy in the coming months. However, I would like to present some of the highlights at this time. -$49.5 million for DREE cost-shared development agreements, apart from those funds allocated to transportation; -expansion of the small business assistance program to six additional counties; -$17 million in the Department of Transportation for permanent bridges, including continued work on the new Fredericton bridge; -$41.8 million for permanent highways; -$13 million for the Saint John and Moncton arterial highways program under the General Development Agreement with DREE; -$15 million for the first year of a new three-year highway subsidiary agreement signed in February by the Premier and the federal Minister of Regional and Economic Expansion; -$2.7 million for extension of the agricultural development sub-agreement; -$7.2 million for the development of serviced industrial land throughout the province; -additional funds to begin the metric conversion of signs on the province's highway system; -$250,000 for further work on marine haul-out facilities at Caraquet; -$185,000 for a pilot plant at Caraquet to test and develop methods for processing new fisheries products; -$150,000 for a new program of building bait sheds for fishermen; -$75,000 for a new marine haul-out at Seal Cove on Grand Manan. In addition, significant increases in Ordinary Account expenditures are planned for the forestry sector, the minerals and fuel sub-agreement, as well as the industrial development, tourism, and northeast development sub-agreements. Three important capital projects have been initiated as the FRED Agreement is phased out in the northeast. These are the Shippegan marine centre, which will add to the tourist potential of the Acadian Peninsula; the Northeast Institute of Technology at Bathurst, and the Bathurst Water Treatment System, to provide a safe and secure water system for the city of Bathurst. Mr. Speaker, I have mentioned only a few of the highlights of the expenditure budget. But as these examples indicate, the government continues to place its main emphasis on job creation through economic development and related activities. Strengthening the Provincial Financial Position Let me turn now to a discussion of the third goal of this budget-strengthening the provincial financial position. First of all, the budget provides for a very substantial surplus on Ordinary Account, in excess of $50 million. The estimated net debt increase is in the order of $71 million, in line with the growth of the Gross Provincial Product, thus maintaining stability in the ratio of net debt to Gross Provincial Product. Financial requirements are planned to be substantially down from the current year level, largely because we believe the economy will pick up in 1977, resulting in greater buoyancy in our revenues. Budgeting' for a good Ordinary Account surplus this year has not been easy, for a number of reasons. First, and perhaps most important, has been the change in our financial policy with respect to public service and teachers' pensions. Hon. members will recall that in 1974-75 there were no matching contributions by the government to either the teachers' or the public service pension funds. In 1975- 76, a total of $1 million was provided for both. In 1976-77, a total of $7.2 million was credited to these trust funds. 111 addition, legislation was passed which obliges the government to provide full matching contributions to both trust funds on behalf of present and future contributors. Thus an important step has been taken towards funding the pension plans of the provincial government. In 1977-78, the government will contribute over $15 million to the teachers' and public service superannuation trust funds in the form of matching contributions. In addition, the contributions by teachers which normally went into general revenue will now be. deposited to the pension fund. This amount would have exceeded $8 million in 1977-78. In other words, the general revenue of the province for 1977-78 has been reduced by over $8 million to ensure that the pension program is put on a, sound financial basis. Mr. Speaker, this means that over $23 million of provincial revenue is being contributed to the teachers' and public service superannuation funds for 1977-78. This amount exceeds the total government contributions which have been made to these funds since they first began. In addition, the provincial government is paying pension benefits exceeding $9 million out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund. These payments are not being charged to the pension funds, so that these funds can be built up. In other words, our policy will now prevent contingent liabilities from outgrowing the government's capacity to pay future pensions. Mr. Speaker, this was the financially responsible action to take. We are absorbing over $23 million in combined expenditure increases and revenue reductions within the forecast ordinary surplus being presented to you today. In the absence of this policy, the ordinary surplus would be $23 million higher. I am sure all hon. members will agree with me in saying that this financial reform, long overdue, will contribute substantially to the future financial stability of the province, and ensure a solid base for future payments to pensioners in years to come. The second reason that a good Ordinary Account surplus has been difficult to achieve arises from the new fiscal arrangements. The federal government has eliminated the revenue guarantee, thereby reducing our entitlements for next year by some $28 million. It is true we are picking up additional funds through established programs financing, but these have been partly offset by the decline in the expected payments under the revenue' guarantee. Thirdly, the anti-inflation program has had a dampening effect on the rate of growth of our revenues during the current year. Combined with worse than expected economic conditions, the revenue base upon which we built our estimates for 1977-78 has not been as high as we had hoped. Despite the difficulties we faced in achieving a good surplus on Ordinary Account, we were still able to do so. The expenditure restraint measures have contributed substantially to this success. In summary, we have taken positive steps to strengthen the financial position of the province. This year it has been especially difficult, but we have achieved our objective. In so doing, we have improved the government's capacity to provide needed public services and to stimulate the creation of long-term permanent jobs. Revenue Changes Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, one of the objectives of the budget plan is to ensure equity and fairness in the tax structure and to reduce the burden on taxpayers in order to create a climate favouring individual initiative and enterprise. I would now like to outline the revenue changes that are planned for the fiscal year 1977-78. Mr. Speaker, in keeping with this government's policy of progressively reforming the revenue structure, I am pleased to announce that the government is reducing certain taxes. The provincial personal income tax will be reduced, in three steps. The first step is a tax reduction for the taxation year 1977, effective January 1. The tax reduction will yield approximately $500,000 in tax benefits to New Brunswick taxpayers. This reduction arises as a consequence of the recently concluded negotiations on fiscal arrangements, which involve a transfer of personal income tax points from the federal government to the provinces. In setting the new provincial tax rate of 55.5 per cent of the federal basic tax, technical adjustments were made which result in the additional tax benefit. The second step is a further tax reduction for the taxation year 1978, which will yield approximately $3 million to New Brunswick taxpayers measured in (1978) dollars. The reduction will be virtually the equivalent of two per cent applied to the old provincial rate of 41.5 per cent. The third step will be to further reduce the provincial personal income tax, effective January 1, 1979. The reduction will be worth a further $5 million to New Brunswick taxpayers in current dollars, which approximates a three per cent tax reduction on the old provincial rate of 41.5 per cent. At the conclusion of all personal income tax reductions, the benefit to New Brunswick taxpayers will be in the order of $11.6 million measured in current dollars. This exceeds the estimated benefit of seven per cent tax cut under the old system which would have yielded approximately $11.4 million. Mr. Speaker, these reductions in the provincial personal income tax more than fulfill the promise of this government to reduce the provincial personal income tax by seven per cent. Mr. Speaker, during the past five years the federal government has introduced a number of measures which have resulted in a reduction of the effective tax rate on corporate income. Beginning in 1972, the tax rate on the income of corporations, then standing at 50 percent, was reduced by one percentage point a year until it reached 46 per cent in 1976. The corporate tax rate was further reduced to 40 per cent on Canadian manufacturing and processing profits and to 25 per cent on profits of small businesses. As a result of those federal measures, provinces, if they so wished, they could adjust their corporate tax rates without imposing an intolerable burden on corporations. Provincial rates of corporate income taxation have been raised in all provinces, except New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, to an average of about 12 per cent and to a high of 15 per cent in Manitoba and British Columbia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the rate of provincial corporation tax for small businesses will be lowered to nine per cent effective January 1, 1977. This is another measure to provide additional assistance to those many small companies in New Brunswick which generate badly needed employment. On the other hand, the government also believes that large and often externally controlled companies can well afford to pay the same tax rates in New Brunswick that they would pay in other provinces. Therefore, corporation income tax on large businesses will be raised by two percentage points, effective January 1, 1977. The above changes in corporate income tax rates are expected to yield an additional $5 million in 1977-78. Hon. members have heard a great deal about the pressures on small businesses as a result of reportedly sharp increases in assessment on business property. In response to this concern, the business tax rate on real property will be reduced from $3 to $2.75 per $100 of assessment, effective January 1, 1978, for the first $60,000 of assessment. Finally, the basic sales tax exemption will be increased from 11 cents to 25 cents. This will bring this exemption in line with our sister provinces in the Maritimes, and reflects the impact of inflation on the yield of this particular tax. I am pleased to announce that the work we have undertaken in reviewing the mining taxation field has finally borne fruit. The government has given consideration to a number of alternative tax systems for mining companies and has concluded that a tax system that combines the principles of an ad valorem royalty and a profits tax would be the most sensible system for application in New Brunswick. The application of the principles and the details of the system are being discussed with industry. We believe such consultations are a vital part of our commitment to creating a climate that is conducive to the growth of industry in the province. At the same time, the government believes that the mining industry should now be able to make a larger contribution to the province's revenues than it has done in the past. It is expected that it will be possible to introduce a revised mining tax system during the current calendar year. The Department of Natural Resources has also been examining the revenue structure for our forest resource during the past several months, in cooperation with the Department of Finance. Royalties in the forestry sector have not been changed appreciably in over 15 years. To date, a preliminary report has been prepared. An interim increase in stumpage charges will be announced pending completion of the final proposal and discussions with industry. For some time now the government has been making an effort to eliminate a number of property tax exemptions. A property tax exemption usually means that the owners of taxable property have to shoulder an additional burden because someone is not paying his fair share. In a very real sense, therefore, the owner of property which is exempt from taxation is receiving a subsidy from other taxpayers. Furthermore, the value of a tax exemption usually bears little relationship, if any, to the amount of assistance which any owner of real property might require, or that the government might consciously choose to provide. Thus, the government has concluded that implicit subsidies which arise from tax exemptions are undesirable. The government has decided, therefore, that there are certain major properties in the province, specifically in telegraph, telephone, cable television and electric power transmission systems, which should no longer be exempt from assessment. However, because there is considerable difficulty in deriving a standard physical inventory on assessment for these transmission and distribution systems, a real property and business tax computed at five per cent of the gross receipts of the company in the province will be levied, effective January 1, 1977. This revenue will accrue entirely to the province, since benefits derived from the properties involved are shared by all provincial residents. Such properties are already taxed in at least five other provinces. Hon. members will recall that the basic assessment of woodland for levying the real property tax has not been changed for several years, even though values have risen substantially. In order to correct this obvious discrepancy, the basic assessment of woodland will be re-established to more accurately reflect current values. A number of revenue changes will be made in charges administered by the Provincial Secretary's Department. They have become badly outdated over time and require revision. It is expected that these changes will yield in excess of $1 million during the fiscal year 1977-78. . Mr. Speaker, the above measures will further strengthen the financial stability of the province, will pay for a substantial part of our capital investments, which assist in generating employment, and will reduce substantially the pressure on our financial requirements. Mr. Speaker, through you, I want to remind hon. members that in the course of the last seven years this government has introduced tax measures which currently benefit New Brunswickers in the order of $51 million per year. The cumulative value of these measures is now estimated at $135 million. The additional changes I have announced today follow a long established principle of this government; namely, that it will not increase direct taxes on people. In fact, we have consistently followed a policy of cutting taxes year after year. Conclusion Mr. Speaker, the budget I am presenting today provides for record expenditures of $1,317.6 million, inclusive of capital expenditures and gross loans and advances. Ordinary Account expenditures will rise by 11.9 per cent to a record level of $1,100.4 million. Combined with record revenues of $1,151.1 million, the surplus on Ordinary Account will be a very substantial $50.7 million. Mr. Speaker, this is a budget that, I believe, is right for the times. The goals that we have set for the budget-controlling the growth of government spending, encouraging job creation, strengthening our finances and improving our tax system-are appropriate for an economy in transition from recession to renewed expansion. To help curb inflation, the rate of growth of government has been restrained, but in doing so, no restraint has been placed on economic growth. Careful and efficient use of tax revenues has enabled us to free a large sum of money for economic development projects: projects that strengthen the long-term prospects for the economy while providing immediate employment. By careful management of financial resources, we have strengthened our financial position. This means the province will be able to command the resources that may be necessary to fully capitalize on the development opportunities that may arise as the economic recovery gains strength. Finally, a careful review of various taxes and fees has eased the tax burden on many people, made aspects of the system more fair and equitable, and contributed to a climate that is favorable to business growth.