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Premier Brad Wall is hinting the province’s budget will not be balanced when it is released on March 22.

Rather than saying we will see a balanced budget, Wall told reporters Monday “you’re going to see a budget-balance plan.”

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Facing around a $1.2-billion deficit, Wall has been pressured to run a deficit rather than introducing an austerity budget.

After saying balancing the budget was the goal, he pivoted to say the government needs to conduct itself in a way that doesn’t “shock the economy” and won’t “gut public services.”

It’s the biggest hint yet that the financial picture of the province for 2017-18 will be covered in red.

Wall admitted that the budget is nearing completion — just some “fine tuning” left — and said that having a deficit is “an option.”

He campaigned in April’s election on balancing the budget, but a significant chunk of revenue from natural resources is no longer flowing into the province’s coffers.