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Following tradition, Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci showed off a new pair of shoes Wednesday ahead of budget day, revealing a pair of women’s work boots to signify the need to put Albertans back to work as the province struggles through a recession.

Ceci said Thursday’s budget will help struggling families and make “significant” steps toward job growth and diversification as the province pushes through an economic downturn caused by declining oil prices.

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He said it won’t be “an austerity budget.” The province will not cut front-line services, even with the deficit set to hit $10.4 billion and debt on track to hit $36 billion by 2020.

In a televised address Tuesday, Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said the government has mismanaged the province’s finances, saying, “we cannot spend our way out of a deficit.”

Ceci said the budget will provide an updated look at the province’s debt load, but it “won’t be significantly” different from the projections included in last fall’s plan.