New officer could cut $75M in spending: NDP

New Brunswick needs a government efficiency officer to eliminate duplication and waste inside the provincial government, according to NDP Leader Roger Duguay.

Duguay made the announcement on Thursday after a week of blasting the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives for reckless spending promises during the election campaign.

The efficiency officer would be given power to review all government departments and agencies and pinpoint potential areas to cut. The efficiency officer would then make the recommendation to cabinet.

"This is another concrete example of how New Democrats will cut spending to balance the budget, without cuts to front-line public services like health and education," Duguay said in a statement.

"We are backing up our commitment to balance the budget with firm commitments."

Duguay said the individual could also make recommendations on ways to cut outside consultants, streamline regulations and improve services to citizens.

It is estimated that $75 million could be saved by hiring the efficiency officer.

The NDP came out with a commitment on Wednesday that would end the so-called March madness, when government departments use up the remainder of their budgets in the last month of the fiscal year.

The party said it believes $210 million could be saved by holding cabinet ministers accountable for all spending done in March. The Nova Scotia NDP government launched a similar program and it saved more than $250 million last year.

New Brunswick's forecasted deficit for 2010-11 is $749-million.

The Progressive Conservatives have vowed, if they are elected on Sept. 27, to set up a government agency that would be responsible for finding government waste.