After more than a decade in the political wilderness, the Liberal government of Newfoundland and Labrador came to power last November with nearly 60 per cent of the vote.

But a controversial austerity budget, a document that relies on dramatic cuts to health, education and social services, has provoked protest and widespread condemnation from across the province just seven months into the government’s mandate.

In this conversation, journalist Cory Collins explains the rapid decline in support for Premier Dwight Ball’s Liberal government amidst the social and political fallout of the 2016 budget.