New Brunswick.

• Author: McCleave, John-Patrick
• Position: Legislative Reports

The House adjourned on December 13 and resumed sitting on February 4, when Finance Minister Blaine Higgs tabled the 2014-2015 Budget, the fourth for the Alward Government.

The provincial government projected a deficit of $391 million. Revenues are expected to increase 4.3 per cent from 2013-14 estimates, exceeding $8 billion. Spending is budgeted to increase less than two per cent over the previous year.

"The challenge is to create the opportunities to keep New Bruns wickers home. We have chosen to put our natural resources to work for the people of this province. New Brunswick has a long history of developing its mineral and forest resources in a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable manner to provide jobs, stimulate investment, generate wealth and grow the economy," said Higgs.

Investment highlights included an increase of three per cent to social assistance rates, $27 million for the New Brunswick Drug Plan, providing drug insurance to 70,000 families without drug coverage; and $7.2 million for the "Home First Strategy," helping seniors stay in their own homes.

Spending reduction initiatives include reducing the number of MLAs from 55 to 49 in the next election and making reductions to the public service sector through the retirement and attrition of approximately 1,500 employees. There were no planned increases to gas, income and consumption taxes, or to major fees, including vehicle licensing and registration.

The 2014-2015 Capital Budget totaled $555 million. The majority of the expenditures will go towards maintaining existing infrastructure, with $35 million in capital spending dedicated to new projects. Highlights include $223 million to repair and maintain transportation infrastructure; $213 million for health-care infrastructure; and $99 million for school infrastructure.

On February 6, Finance Critic Roger Melanson responded to the Budget speech. Melanson spoke at length on the issues surrounding hydrofracking. He questioned why the government had not yet balanced the budget, despite cuts to frontline services and increased taxes and fees in recent years, including gas, tobacco and income taxes. Melanson also raised concerns about a number of unfulfilled campaign promises, including the elimination of ambulance fees, the doubling of medical seats in universities and freezing property taxes for those over 65 years of age.

Legislation

Legislation introduced by the Government since the spring sitting includes;

Bill...