Gas tax relief coming in N.L. budget 2017

The temporary gas tax increase brought in as part of last year's budget is getting trimmedtoday.

CBC news has learned the Newfoundland and Labrador government will table a budgetthat will show its deficit reduction plan is ahead of schedule.

Governmentwill also partially reduce the temporary gas tax increase that came into effect last June.

Finance Minister Cathy Bennett's second budget will project a deficit of less than $800-million.That's an improvement of more than a billion dollars from her first budget a year ago.

• Budget 2017 breakdown: a look at what to expect

That improved fiscal performance is allowing Bennett to partially roll back the sharp increase in the gas tax. Itjumped by 16.5 cents a litre, butCBC News has learned it will be cut by about eight cents a litre in this budget.

A senior government source also says the budget will include minimal job losses.

Live blog

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