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PEI

No cuts coming despite $30M bill from feds, province says

The P.E.I. government says services to Islanders will not be affected despite receiving news it owes Ottawa $30 million from an HST miscalculation.

Finance minister says province can pay back $30 million and still balance budget in 2017-18

P.E.I. Finance Minister Allen Roach is hoping another strong year in revenues can help offset the $30 million it must pay back to Ottawa. (CBC)

The P.E.I. government says services to Islanders will not be affected despite receiving news it owes Ottawa $30 million from an HST miscalculation.

"I don't see any cuts coming from this," Finance Minister Allen Roach said on CBC News: Compass.

Whether we like it or not we have to deal with it and that's what we have to address now.- Finance Minister Allen Roach

Nor should the $30 million bill affect next year's budget, he said.

"I know we're still on track for a balanced budget in '17-18."

P.E.I. had strong years in tourism and exports, and Roach said he expects that to continue into next year.

"We're very hopeful we're going to have strong revenues to help us offset this," he said.

Strong revenues

The $30 million is a big number, he said, but "one we believe we can work with."

"The federal government have said it's their miscalculation," Roach said.

"Whether we like it or not we have to deal with it and that's what we have to address now."

With files from CBC News: Compass