Spending cuts, government-wide hiring freeze forecast for B.C.: finance minister

VICTORIA – B.C. Finance Minister Mike de Jong says government spending cuts are on the way as the province faces a growing budget deficit.

In delivering his first quarterly report since becoming finance minister last week, de Jong says declining natural gas revenues are hurting the province’s bottom line.

He says a government-wide hiring freeze will also be implemented.

De Jong says the province is reviewing its bargaining positions with public sector unions, some that have already staged a one-day strike to back demands for more money.

He says the government is required by law to deliver a balanced budget in 2013-14.

The finance minister says the deficit for this year’s budget is now forecast at $1.14 billion, up $173 million from earlier forecasts.