FREDERICTON - New Brunswick Premier David Alward is expected to face his most challenging legislative session yet as his Conservative government tries to get its finances in order while fending off building criticism over its position on shale gas development.

The fall session begins Wednesday with a speech from the throne just as the province struggles to overcome stark fiscal numbers. It is projecting a deficit this fiscal year of $545.7 million and a net debt expected to top $10 billion, despite studies, calls for suggestions and efforts to get government departments to cut spending.

Amid that backdrop, the government has recently announced cutbacks in snow removal and warned of possible measures that could include highway tolls and increased taxes as it seeks to bolster revenues.

Deputy premier Paul Robichaud wouldn't give details Tuesday of the government's agenda. But he said the throne speech will signal how the government intends to improve finances, economic development and government renewal.

"The speech from the throne will give you a very good idea of the vision of the government and how we're going to face the challenges," Robichaud said.

Tom Bateman, a political scientist at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, said the government has failed to take any concrete action on the province's major issues during their first year in office.

"The government needs revenues, it needs to cut costs," Bateman said. "We've got very serious demographic changes coming down the pike. Public services influenced by demographic trends are going to be more expensive in the future than they are right now, and we've got young, bright, ambitious people leaving the province.

"It has got to change."

Bateman said if the Conservatives are to make any unpopular decisions such as tax increases, they should be done now because waiting until later in their mandate would be politically dangerous.

The previous Liberal government of Shawn Graham launched a failed effort to sell NB Power, the province's public utility company, late in their mandate in a bid to address the province's finances. That resulted in a huge public backlash and the Liberals were defeated after serving one term -- the first time in the province's history.

The current government is also facing another problem -- growing public opposition to shale gas exploration, which the government says has the potential to create jobs and revenue.

There have been weekly protests outside of government buildings, and one exploration company halted its testing early this year after it said equipment had been stolen and vandalized.

Bateman the government is facing a public that is slow to accept change.

"More New Brunswickers really have to grapple with these things and be part of the solution instead of just saying, 'No,' all the time, and I think that's the real problem facing the provincial government."

Liberal Opposition Leader Victor Boudreau said the government has squandered its first year in power, and has made cost-cutting suggestions he deemed feeble instead of growing the economy.

Boudreau cited as an example the government's musings on cancelling free flue shots for people in some high-risk groups, such as pregnant women. The idea was met with swift opposition and dropped.

"When I think back to their idea of wanting to cancel flu vaccinations, that is the most ridiculous thing," Boudreau said.

"They've decided to reopen government garages but take snowplows off the road. That doesn't make any sense to me, so we're going to keep their feet to the fire on all these issues."

Boudreau has called for a moratorium on shale gas exploration until the government outlines strict regulations and consults with the public.

A large anti-shale gas protest is expected Wednesday prior to the throne speech. Members of the St. Mary's First Nation have already erected a teepee in front of the legislature as a symbolic meeting place for the government and opponents to discuss the issue.

Opponents are worried that groundwater supplies could be contaminated from hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking.

The process involves forcing a cocktail of chemicals, water and sand into a gas well to fracture layers of shale rock and release trapped pockets of natural gas.

Robichaud said the government will have more to say on shale gas exploration during the fall session, but he reiterated its promise there would be no shale gas development unless it is safe.

"The only way that we will have a shale gas industry in New Brunswick is if we have the guarantee that it is secure for the environment, the health of citizens and for drinking water," Robichaud said.

Robichaud said 15 bills will be introduced, including one to create a body to review the province's electoral boundaries -- a review that's required every 10 years.

He said the government must also pass legislation to fulfil a campaign promise to allow the public to elect members of regional hospital boards during municipal elections. Those are set for next March.

A capital budget is also expected in the second week of December.

The fall session of the legislature is expected to last about four weeks.