New Brunswick.

• Author: Myles, Diane Taylor
• Position: Legislative Reports - Report

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The Second Session of the Fifty-sixth Legislature was recalled February 13, 2008 to consider back-to-work legislation for striking CUPE workers. The House subsequently adjourned until March 11 following Human Resources Minister Wally Stiles' announcement that a tentative agreement with CUPE 1251 had been reached.

Budget

On March 18, Finance Minister Victor Boudreau brought down the 2008-2009 budget, noting that it was balanced with no tax increases and a surplus of $19 million. Among the measures outlined: an increase of $113.3 million in health-care spending; an increase of $63.5 million in K-12 education; an additional $12 million in financial assistance to universities; funding to hire 43 new social workers; an increase of 3.4 per cent for the Department of Social Development; continued phase-out of the large corporation capital tax; funding to complete a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment on the proposal by Irving Oil Ltd. to construct and operate facilities for a petroleum refinery; a request that government departments realize a total of $15 million in program administrative savings; the creation of a trust fund for restoration of the Petitcodiac River; and new funding for the Fisheries Renewal Framework and for strategic investments in the agriculture and aquaculture industries. The government will table a green paper outlining options to reform the tax system focussed on personal income tax, corporate income tax, property taxes for individuals and businesses, consumption taxes, and fuel taxes. A select committee of the Legislature will be appointed to conduct consultations with stakeholders and report recommendations. The minister noted: "One of the pillars supporting our self-sufficiency objective is transformation of the tax system. New Brunswick's overall tax burden is competitive, but significant reforms will be required to support self-sufficiency."

In responding to the Budget Speech on March 20, Finance Critic and Opposition Leader Jeannot Volpe noted: "The Liberals have taken away the political and democratic process in New Brunswick by eliminating regional authorities, cutting prebudget consultations, and canceling public consultations on forestry."

The Opposition Leader stated that the budget failed to help children access the bilingual language training needed to access attractive job opportunities later on and failed to meet its objective of achieving self-sufficiency because, instead of...