Could have handled deficit reduction levy differently, Dwight Ball admits

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball admits that in hindsight his cash-strapped government might have taken a different approach to raising money than the controversial deficit reduction levy that was substantially whittled down on Wednesday.

"So the structure itself, yeah,I guess in retrospect if you had to do it all over again, you know,maybe we would look at it a little different," Ball said in an interview with Here & Now's Debbie Cooper.

• Deficit reduction levy axed for incomes under $50K

• Dwight Ball least favourite premier in Canada, poll says

• Liberals feeling heat over unpopular deficit reduction levy

On Wednesday, Ball announced that thedeficit reduction levy would not be applied to anyone earning $50,000 or less, raising the threshold from $20,000.

As well, most other income-tax filers will pay less than first announced, while the highest bands of taxpayers will pay more.

TheLiberals were stung by criticism about the levy, which opponents saw as regressive and harshest on lower-income earners.

The levy, which was introduced in the April 14 budget, was expected to reap $126 million a year before being phased out in a few years.

Backlash worked, says McCurdy

In announcing new levy rules on Wednesday, the Liberals said debtleniencygranted by the federal government gave them some more money to make a change.

But NDP Leader Earle McCurdy says it was actually the budget backlash most of it focused on the deficit reduction levy that forced their hands.

"This change came about from the strong backlash. Had there been no backlash, with or without the $27-million break from the federal government, the levy would have remained in place," said McCurdy.

• Thousands swarm Confederation Building for anti-budget protest

Protests were launched across the province in response to the budget, and the biggest a May 7 rallyat Confederation Building in St. John's drew thousands of people.

With the shift in the levy rates, the NDP is now backing off its plan to filibuster the levy introductionbill.

Sticking to other budget plans

Despite Wednesday's change, Ball insists that he will make no further concessions to criticisms in the budget.

"There's nothing that I foresee in the days coming that would change budget 2016-2017," he said.

Ball said that while his government will notcave in and reverse heavily contesteddecisions to cut public library funding and to follow through with all-day kindergarten,he wants the public to know that his government islistening.

These are tough timesand not easy decisions to be made.- Dwight Ball

"We'll always work with Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in the future to make sure we will bring the necessary improvements that we want to be able to deliver," he said.

"These are tough timesand not easy decisions to be made."

He also addressed a recent poll by the Angus Reid institutethat named him Canada's least favourite premier.

"You're never going to be popular when you've had to make the decisions like we've had to make," he said.

Ball said that even though times are tough right now,he remains hopeful for the province's future.

"It's not about Dwight Ball right now. It's about the future of our province," he said.

"That's what I lose sleep about and that's what I find the most stress over."