New Brunswick.

AuthorMcCleave, John Patrick
PositionLegislative Reports

Throne Speech

Lieutenant-Governor Jocelyne Roy Vienneau opened the Second Session of the 58th Legislature on December 1, 2015 with the delivery of the Speech from the Throne. The speech emphasized that the government would focus the first part of the legislative session on the completion of their Strategic Program Review, a government initiative to evaluate departmental spending and control costs.

The speech outlined the need for job creation, economic opportunity, and investments in health and education. Highlights included the development of a new innovation strategy to increase competitiveness in the global economy; a revision of export strategies to benefit from the European Union's Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and developing Asian markets; a strategy to increase immigration and to accommodate up to 1,500 Syrian refugees; the release of a Climate Change Action Plan; continued advancement opportunities with First Nations communities; the development of a 10-year education plan and aggressive literacy strategy; the requirement of four publicly-funded post-secondary institutions to appear annually before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts; and the development of a council on aging.

Reply to Throne Speech

On December 3, Official Opposition Leader Bruce Fitch gave his reply to the Speech from the Throne. Mr. Fitch highlighted a number of successful business start-ups such as RtTech and Resourceful Redneck. He also announced the appointment of Brian Macdonald, Fredericton West-Hanwell, to the newly created position of refugee transition critic for the Official Opposition. Mr. Fitch raised concerns about the Strategic Program Review, the public debt, the 10-year education plan, and the impact of the shale gas moratorium on natural gas prices and economic development. He also expressed his hope that a modified version of the Official Opposition's previously-introduced Bill, concerning the eligibility of first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder to receive workers' compensation, would be introduced by the government during the session.

Capital Budget

The 2016-17 Capital Budget totals $656.1 million, representing a $53.4 million decrease from the planned spending projections announced last year. Specifically, $413.3 million will be allocated for road and bridge construction, their maintenance, and building upgrades; $108.6 million for K-12 schools; and $72.1 million for the maintenance and improvement of...

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