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we made changes to the province’s payroll tax exemption, We’re investing in our future and the future of Newfoundland and
increasing it from $1.2 million to $1.3 million. This exempted 50 Labrador is bright. The Way Forward outlines all actions our
further companies from paying the tax and lowered the tax for the Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with
remaining 1,200 companies by up to $2,000. In Budget 2019, we a high standard of living, and can be viewed at
also eliminated the full tax on automobile insurance, which is thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.
supportive of both businesses and also individual motorists. We
Darin King:
have also instituted tax credits for search and rescue volunteers
Do you have any thoughts and/or messages you would like to
and firefighters in recent years, so there is precedence for such a
convey to Canada’s Building Trades Unions over 500,000
move.
members as we head toward the fall election?
Darin King:
Dwight Ball:
What are the biggest challenges ahead for the province of
We value the work that you do in the building, construction,
Newfoundland and Labrador? And further to that, what are some
fabrication and maintenance industry. Our collaborative working
of the biggest opportunities?
relationship with the federal government, provinces, territories,
Dwight Ball: and organizations like Trades NL is important to us as we continue
When our government was elected, we faced a fiscal situation that to make sure residents are directly benefiting from high quality
was unprecedented in our history. We were left with an annual programs and services.
deficit of over 2.7 billion dollars for a population just over half a
As we have outlined in The Way Forward, our government
million people. We were left to clean up Muskrat Falls, a 12.7
continues to leverage all available sources of funding and
billion dollar hydro electric project. Our government has a plan,
strengthen partnerships to maximize investments, that will create
“Protecting You from the Cost Impacts of Muskrat Falls”, which
jobs, strengthen the province’s economic foundation, enhance
protects residents from increases to electricity rates and taxes
services, and improve outcomes for Newfoundlanders and
resulting from the Muskrat Falls project that would otherwise
Labradorians.
affect the cost of living.
Our government is positioning our province as an ideal and safe
Immigration is critical to growth in our province. Our government
place to live, work and raise a family. We’re making a real
is committed welcoming approximately 1,700 immigrants annually
difference in the lives of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Our
to the province by 2022. Last year, over 1,500 made
plan, The Way Forward, is positively impacting lives, right here at
Newfoundland and Labrador their permanent home; new residents
home.
that are a direct benefit from out Atlantic Immigration Pilot
Program.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, provincial demographics are
changing as people 65 years and over make up more than 20 per
cent of the population. As outlined in The Way Forward, we are
improving outcomes with the addition of new long -term care
homes. This will create more space in long-term care and will ease
pressure on the health care system, moving people more quickly
from acute care beds to more appropriate care. Health at Home
is now offered across the province, reducing the need for travel
by allowing patients and their families to remain in their homes to
check, record and transmit their personal health indicators such
as blood pressure, oxygen or blood sugar levels. This can also
reduce visits to health care facilities and the need for costly acute
care services.
Our province is rich in natural resources. Our non-renewable
natural resources continue to be key drivers for new jobs and
economic development and we are continuing to position our
province as a preferred destination for oil, gas, and mining activity.
Over the last two years, we have announced over $18 billion in
investments in mining, oil and gas projects. With an abundance of
developed and undeveloped renewable energy sources such as
hydro and wind, our province has much more to offer.

Although our province faces fiscal, economics, and social
challenges – our plan is working and is producing real results. Our
government has made considerable progress in strengthen the
province’s economic foundation and delivering better services and
better outcomes for residents. We’re stabilizing spending,
attracting investment, and using every possible opportunity to
make our province the best place to live, work and raise a family.

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