HALIFAX -- Nova Scotia's finance minister has called a meeting for next Tuesday with the public sector unions in the province in hopes of coming up with innovative ways to deal with a marathon round of talks coming this fall.

Randy Delorey says in a statement released Tuesday evening that he's looking for an open discussion.

Invitations were sent Tuesday to representatives of all unions involved in about 320 collective agreements up for negotiations this year, including health-care workers, paramedics, teachers and public servants.

Premier Stephen McNeil has said the province plans to balance its budget by the 2017-18 budget and public sector wages and benefits must be in a range that will allow the province to meet its goal.

Delorey says in his email that the province is committed to finding new ways to address the challenges it faces.