QUEBEC - Quebec's centre-right party wants the province to cut 13,000 public-service jobs in the upcoming budget.
Action democratique du Quebec Leader Gerard Deltell called the proposed cuts a necessary sacrifice for the heavily indebted province.
His comments come as Quebec's Liberal government gets set to table its budget on Thursday.
Deltell says the Liberals should take advantage of the coming retirement of several thousand public-sector workers to eliminate their positions permanently.
He added that the wave of retirements over the next five years represents a historic opportunity for the government to reduce its size.
The ADQ has made trimming Quebec's public service one of its priorities.
Finance Minister Raymond Bachand's budget is not expected to contain any major new spending announcements.
Bachand has indicated that he will keep the government on track towards zero deficit in 2013-14.
