Government of New Brunswick

Finance Minister Victor Boudreau delivered a balanced budget, with no tax increases, today at the Legislative Assembly in Fredericton.

The 2008-09 budget, which shows a modest surplus of $19 million, provides an increase of $113.3 million in health-care spending; an increase of $63.5 million in K-12 education; an additional $12 million in financial assistance to universities, which will result in a tuition freeze in the coming academic year for the four publicly-funded universities; funding to hire 43 new social workers; an increase of 3.4 per cent for the Department of Social Development; and details about a process for significant tax reform. These investments will build on important investments already undertaken by the government.