Is McNeil government's 4th fiscal plan a real budget or platform plank?

When Finance Minister Randy Delorey delivers the Liberal government's fourth budget Thursday, Nova Scotia's opposition parties may not be paying rapt attention.

That's because neither the Progressive Conservatives nor the NDP members of the legislature believe this fiscal plan will survive long enough to debate.

Premier Stephen McNeil has been repeatedly asked if he will see this budget through to a vote, but has refused to give that assurance, fuelling speculation that this is simply part of his party's pre-electioneering rather than a true fiscal plan.

Process would start over again if election called

If the premier were to call an election before the budget vote, somethingPC premier RodneyMacDonalddid in 2006, the incoming government, even if the current government were re-elected, would need to start the process all over again.

MacDonald re-introduced his budgetwith a few changesduring a rare July sitting of the Nova Scotia legislature.

In a pre-budget address to the Halifax Chamber of Commerce last month,Delorey promised a modest tax cut to small businesses and a greater effort to slash red tape.

What to expect in budget

The Canadian Press citeda government source familiar with the fiscal document as sayingitwill contain $2.4 million in annual funding for two medical programsthat would result in an additional 50 doctors a year for theprovincial health system.

The funding would create 10 new seats in the family residencyprogram at Dalhousie University and open 10 new spaces in the readyassessment program, which assists international doctors inestablishing practices in Nova Scotia.

Last month, Delorey committed to abalancedbudgetfor 2017-18, on the heels of a forecasted surplus of$12.1 million for 2016-17.

Delorey also revealed thebudgetwould see a rise in the threshold for the small business income tax rate to $500,000 from$350,000.

The move would shift more than 1,000 companies into a lowerincome tax bracket, paying rates of three per cent rather than 16per cent on their income.

• It's an election year, but when are Nova Scotians most likely to vote?