No effort to mislead Islanders, provincial treasurer says WAYNE THIBODEAU The Guardian
Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan says no efforts were made to mislead Islanders even though Friday’s fiscal update delivered at Province House included budget projections from April that did not match the original budget.
Sheridan said the changes had to do with the rounding off of numbers.
In April’s budget, the province said total expenditures would total $1 billion $514 million.
But in the fiscal update released Friday, the province stated those April budget numbers as $1 billion $515 million.
The situation is similar with revenues.
In the budget released in April, revenues are stated as $1,429.6 billion.
In the fiscal update, that same column reads $1,429.7.
Sheridan said it’s only a difference of a couple of hundred thousand dollars, which is not significant considering it’s a billion dollar-plus budget.
Finance officials confirm the figures from April should have been the same in both the budget and the fiscal update and blamed the changes on the rounding off of numbers.
“They’re working with number extracted right out to a dollar,” said Sheridan.
“We’re talking $100,000 on a $1.4-billion budget. There’s no effort to ever mislead somebody with a number.”
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George from pei writes: And this said by a a person working for Robert Ghiz..so we should believe him..I don't think so. Don't get me wrong, Mr. Sheridan seems to be a very personable man but please know that there are a handful people running this government and the rest take orders and bow down so they can continue to have a job. Besides running our Island in the red, the PNP scandal, the energy losing battle, the poor treatment of staff, the appointments to so and so..or so and so's children in big money positions ( now that takes its toll on our budget dollars) You would be surprised to know how many appointments for Management and director level positions the Liberal group have been passing out. Now if these appointed people can do the job great. But when they are putting people in positions of authority with salaries ranging from 65-90 000 annually but their administrative staff who make 30-40 are the actual people doing the work , there is something wrong. We have kids who were student placements 2-3 years ago and since their daddies are big Liberal supporters they have been awarded with large salaries and key positions but not capable of doing the job. Maybe with experience over the years they could but not now..With all the federal stimulus funding the Island has received , the question begs, what is happening to the provincial budget. Yes, and people please realize all the new programs coming forth to create jobs are funded with federal dollars only but these crooks are going to try to make Islanders believe it's all about the Liberals giving to Islanders. The only thing this Liberal administration has given Islanders is one big ULCER...with a stamp of humiliation....
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farmboy ralph from the countryside, pei writes: If it is five or higher you move up four or lower you move down. I am glad I was able to help.
a couple of hundred thousand may not be a lot of money when you have had the kind of cash floating around this party has but moving the number a little bit so it is prettier shows exactly how these guys think.
Make it look good for the simple island voter. Just pick any old digit to round with. How can a government so young display such contempt for ethics?
They must have just rounded down the ethics and honesty part.
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John MacInnis from Charlottetown, PEI writes: uh huh....no effort to mislead anybody as the current government attempts to spend their way to prosperity. They are spending more than the province is collecting in tax revenue - and if you think that policy has not produced a negative effect now, just wait until the kids who are in elementary school now enter the workforce. Mr. Sheridan, are you sure that you gave JD Irving enough money ? They only came in as the # 2 corporation this year with a net worth of over $7 B, so they probably really appreciate the assistance. The taxpayers of PEI will be paying for that $600 K subsidy....but maybe that will help JD Irving take the # 1 spot next year. Isn't that exciting ??
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Behind The Plow from PEI writes: The View from Here............
1. Money means nothing to the Ghiz Gang!!
2. A few hundred thousand dollars......chicken feed........
3. With a bit more tact and professionalism displayed!!!! Not going to happen with this crowd!!!
4. I am sure the total budget is perhaps accurate due to The Federal and US situation, but spending accountability is one of the missing tool kit items that Ghiz and Company either know nothing about or care nothing about..........You pick which one at the next election date and mark your ballot accordingly.
5. Nothing will change with this crowd.....Their is not a living spin doctor for hire who can change the course of events for this lack of entegrity, shallow, , non business experience, one term government.........
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I believe there's no effort! from PEI writes: But we'll have to wait till April to truly confirm what results no effort brings forth!!!
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XComa from PEI writes: Perhaps the Title should be: 'No effort needed to mislead Islanders' or 'No effort needed to mislead most Islanders'..
''...In the budget released in April, revenues are stated as $1,429.6 billion...'' 1,429.6 billion is 1.429.6 Trillion.. Maybe the number was 1,429.6 million?
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Michael from PEI writes: With PNP, PEI has officially become Hillbillie Heaven.
Give Your head a shake Wes.
Since P N P I don't believe a word that comes out of any Gov. Employee's mouth and Yes that means You too.
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Bill from PE writes: This is laughable, but it should be thought of very seriously.
Here we have a finance minister saying that a couple hundred thousand dollars is not a significant amount of money.
It IS a significant amount of money, I don't care how many billions of dollars you are working with.
EVERY TAXPAYER DOLLAR is significant, so now we are starting to see why these guys are in the sh#$ that they are in financially.
They got handout from the feds and they are still forecasting growing deficits, despicable!!!! to say the least!!!!
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