Governing Liberals failing to provide hope amid fiscal crisis, says Paul Davis

Reaction to Tuesday's throne speech was greeted with disappointment from oppositions politicians, with Progressive Conservative Leader Paul Davis accusing the governing Liberals of failing to give residents any hope or optimism in a time of unprecedented fiscal uncertainty.

• Everyone will need to make sacrifices during fiscal crisis, throne speech says
• N.L. has few good options in quest to balance books

"We simply heard that people should brace themselves and everyone's going to be sacrificed in some way," said Davis, who served as premier for a year before losing last fall's provincial election to Dwight Ball and the Liberals.

Davis said public confidence in the economy is fading fast, and the "really tough" message from government is not helping.

NDP Leader Earle McCurdy says he took notice of what the speech didn't contain: any references to a decision by the Liberals to rescind an increase to the HST, or a pre-election promise to protect public sector workers from layoffs.

"They didn't mention that today, which kind of suggests the HST increase is back on the table again," McCurdy said.

We never hear any talk of hope or the future or building a province.- Paul Davis

"As was the promise that they made over and over and over again in the election campaign that there would be no layoffs in the public sector."

McCurdy also suggested the public should brace for more privatization of public services, a move he said is disguised by government in language such as "modernizing the role of government" in the delivery of services.

If this is government's plan, they should say so "instead of substituting plain language for gobbledegook," said McCurdy.

Premier Ball refused to give any specifics when asked how government is preparing to deal with the province's "terrible" finances.

The province is forecasting a record deficit of $2 billion for the current fiscal year, and the need to borrow more than $15 billion by 2020-21 unless big changes are made.

Observers are predicting a balance of tax increases, layoffs and ongoing borrowing for the foreseeable future, and Ball admitted Tuesday he doesn't expect to balance the books during his four-year mandate.

Meanwhile, Davis said government is fuelling the uncertainty by refusing to give a clear plan.

"We never hear any talk of hope or the future or building a province," Davis said.