Education, health care will not be slashed: Premier Gallant

In his State of the Province address on Thursday, Premier Brian Gallant assured his audience he will not be "slashing" health care and education.

"We are going to be the government that invest the most in education and health care in the history of our province," he said.

Gallant said there are a number of major choices on the table, leaving open the possibility of an HST hike, an increase in corporate taxes, highway tolls and cuts to the civil service.

"I can tell you that you are going to see within the first two budgets a 50/50 split between expenditure reductions and adding additional revenues," said the premier.

Gallant also said his government plans to invest in education withthe creation of an education and new economy fund, which he said will "allow us to invest in research and development and help individuals like the single mom who wants to further her education and ensure that her kid has adequate day care while getting the best chance in school."

Details of the government's plans are expected to be announced in Tuesday's budget.