As the year draws to a close, Maritime premiers are promising a lean 2016.

In annual year-end interviews with leaders of Canada’s three smallest provinces, slashing deficits and making do with fewer tax dollars were consistent themes.

New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant's four-line holiday message found on the government website is brief and to the point.

"(New Brunswickers) are fortunate to be living in a beautiful province where they're working together to create opportunities to better the quality of life," says the premier.

But bettering the quality of life may mean tightening the fiscal belt. Gallant says tough choices are ahead as the province tries to tackle a $600 million deficit.

The premier is now turning to New Brunswickers for advice.

"We released a very transparent document called the Choices Report, making it clear what are the options that are in front of us, which choices we have to choose from,” said Gallant. “We hope New Brunswickers will give us feedback."

Items on the list include reducing the size of government, cutting the amount of money universities and municipalities receive, apply cuts to health care and education, and raise the HST and road tolls.

"We very much recognize that all of these decisions can have an impact and we want to make sure we have the decisions made in a way that we're going to be able to invest in the priorities of New Brunswickers, health care, job and education," said Gallant.

Across the Confederation Bridge, another premier is reciting a similar message. The cupboards are bare, with a lot of talk focusing on explaining the importance of fiscal restraint.

"I think you have to show people that what has been identified as a priority is indeed better for the people," said Prince Edward Island Premier Wade MacLauchlan.

Just like in New Brunswick, the deficit looms large. At $20 million, it may pale in comparison to its Maritime cousins, but paying it down is no less urgent.

With another budget in the spring, the premier says Islanders can expect the government to cut about four to five per cent of what they're currently spending, adding to the uncertainty in the Island's shrinking population.

"I think it has to be an all-out effort,” said MacLauchlan. “I call it recruit, repatriate and retain our own people."

There are similar tough choices in Nova Scotia. Finance Minister Randy Delorey admitted earlier the deficit will be higher than expected.

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil blames outside factors for driving up the deficit, but says other revenue streams including highway tolls could offset some of those spending shortfalls.

"People want those highways twinned, they want them safe,” said McNeil. “We've gone out and said we can take 20 years and do it the way we're doing it or we can do it in anoher way and what does that look like."

Nova Scotia is looking at a projected deficit of $241.2 million for 2015-2016.

"We've seen not only in Nova Scotia, we've seen a drop in revenue all across the country which affects your ability to provide the services that were already here before you came, so the reality of government forces you to continue to respond, the ball continues to move," said McNeil.

Year-end interviews with Maritime premiers will air on CTV News at 6 starting Tuesday.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Bill Dicks.