Labrador West MHA-elect Jordan Brown told VOCM Open Line lastMonday that “he has some concerns about last month’s budget” and that his
cooperation requires that “things have to change in addressing the fiscal
reality facing the province.” Though Mr. Brown raised other issues too, this comment
is interesting if only because it goes straight to the question of how the NDP
will position themselves on budgetary issues in the new minority legislature.
Bear in mind that dissolution is the result if a Budget Bill
or a Confidence Motion fails, unless the Tories can demonstrate to the
Lieutenant Governor that they have the confidence of the House — which current
math does not favour.
My guess is that, at this point, Jordan Brown’s comment is
premature and that, as well-intentioned as it may be, Alison Coffin and Jim
Dinn will introduce him to a lexicon that includes critical words of equivocation
— including with respect to last month’s Liberal budget.
