Finance Minister Raymond Bachand announced that the Quebec government will table a new budget on March 17.  Bachand says the budget will be a responsible one.  He says It will control debt, while protecting health and education. The government says it is on  target to return to a balanced budget by 2014.

 Bachand boasts 125 000 jobs created in the last 18 months without any increased tax burden for Quebecers.

The provincial budget will come the week before the federal budget, scheduled for March 22.