Cutting Boards Not A Debt Solution: Belanger

Cutting Boards Not A Debt Solution: Belanger

Monday, December 14, 2009 at 10:13

Athabasca MLA Buckley Belanger says he doesn’t buy the government’s rationale for axing several agencies and boards in the province.

This past week, the Wall government announced it was doing away with over 80 advisory groups, because many of the them no longer meet or their work is being duplicated elsewhere.

The government says it hopes to save half a million dollars through the move.

However, Belanger says he believes the government is merely trying to deflect attention away from a looming deficit.

“You’re $1.7-billion (in debt), and your way of addressing that is to say, ‘We’re going to do away with some committees’? Give me a break,” he says.

Belanger adds he doesn’t think the government will even meet its savings target of $500,000.