New Brunswick.

AuthorMcKay, Neill
PositionLegislative Reports

Throne Speech

Lieutenant-Governor Jocelyne Roy Vienneau opened the First Session of the Fifty-eighth Legislature on December 3, delivering the first Speech from the Throne of Premier Brian Gallant's Liberal government. The major theme of the speech was moving New Brunswick forward with a plan to create the right conditions for job growth, a plan to achieve fiscal balance, and a plan that will put families and communities back to work.

Highlights included the establishment of a New Brunswick Jobs Board; the establishment of a new Crown corporation called Opportunities New Brunswick to lead the way in job creation and economic growth; the creation of infrastructure investment, economic development, and youth employment funds; the development of a 10-year plan for education; an innovation agenda; responsible development of energy and natural resource opportunities; centralization of common government functions and a comprehensive review of all government programmes; home energy retrofit programmes; and changes to various taxes and fees.

Reply to Throne Speech

On December 5, Official Opposition Leader Bruce Fitch gave his reply to the Speech from the Throne. Fitch spoke about the potential of the shale gas industry to increase employment and economic activity in New Brunswick, stating the Opposition's disagreement with the Government's proposed moratorium on hydraulic fracturing. He expressed the concern that the Government may seek to reverse the previous government's gains in such areas as programme review, job creation, the promotion of energy efficiency, the forest industry, and shale gas exploration.

Mr. Fitch noted various economic sectors that had not been discussed in the Speech from the Throne, including fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, agriculture, health, and social programmes. He conveyed the Opposition's concern about the combination of various departments under single ministers, and the financial implications of the Government's proposed infrastructure programme.

Capital Budget

On December 17, Minister of Finance Roger Melanson introduced the 2015-16 Capital Budget. Of the $597.1-million capital budget, $409.5 million was allocated to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, mainly for the maintenance and repair of transportation infrastructure through full implementation of the province's asset management system. The Government will also invest $95.9 million in schools, $60.2 million in health-care facilities, $5.6...

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