Get ready for belt-tightening, Premier Philippe Couillard tells Quebecers

Premier Philippe Couillard is again telling Quebecershis government will do whatever it takes to balance the provincialbudget next year.

Couillard used hisinaugural speech in the Quebec legislature thisafternoon to drum home his view that the time for cosmetic changesto the economy has come and gone.

He saidQuebecershave been spending more than they can affordfor years.

"To which generation will we send the bill if we dont act? To whom will we ask to negotiate loan rates if our public finances are out of control? Couillard said.

Quebec has the highest debt in the country. As of this past March31, it was projected to stand at $198.4 billion, or 54.3 per cent ofgross domestic product.

Couillardis aiming for a $1.75-billion deficit thisfiscal year before returning to a balanced budget in 2015-16.

That will mean a much tighter control of government spending anda revised role for the government in how it manages the economy.

The next provincialbudget will be tabled inearly June.

Language and culture

Couillardalso spoke about diversity in Quebec, taking a dig at the previous Parti Qubcois government's proposedsecular charter.

Couillard sais he feelsdiversity is not a menace, but a treasure.

The Premier also addressed the issue of language and bilingualism, stating that it's important for Quebecers to know French, but that everyone should also learn English.

What counts is the adhesion and attachment that we share French as the common language in the public space in Quebec, and respecting therights and historiccontribution of our anglophone compatriots," Couillard said.

National Assembly absences

There werea few high-profile absences when the legislature convened.

Pierre Karl Pladeau, a former media mogul being touted as a Parti Qubcois leadership contender,is recovering in hospital after a bike accident on Sunday left him with several fractures.

As well, former Liberal transport minister Julie Boulet was a no-show after recently testifying at the provincial corruption inquiry intopolitical party financing. Boulet was left out when Couillard crafted his cabinet.

Stphane Bdard, the interim PQ leader, said he hopes the debates in this session will be more constructive than in the last.

The Liberals were elected with a majority government on April 7, ending 18 months of PQ minority rule.