New Brunswick.

• Author: Del Frate, Alicia R.
• Position: Legislative Reports

Ice Storm

The House adjourned on December 16 and briefly resumed sitting on January 31, when Finance Minister Cathy Rogers was expected to table the Government's third Budget. Instead, the House adjourned again until February 7 to accommodate the relief efforts in the Acadian peninsula, which was severely impacted by an ice storm. At the storm's peak, 130,000 people were without power for several days and several New Brunswick communities declared states of emergency,. Over 380 crews were on the ground, including the Canadian Armed Forces, to provide relief services.

Budget

On February 7, Minister Rogers tabled the 2017-2018 Budget. While a deficit of $191.9 million was projected for 2017-2018, the New Brunswick economy was also projected to grow by 0.6 per cent in 2017. The province aims to return to fiscal balance by 2020-2021. "We are meeting our financial targets," said Minister Rogers, "we have been able to do this without making deep cuts to the programs that New Brunswickers hold dear."

The 2017-2018 Budget includes record investments in education and health care. Effective January 1, 2018, the daycare assistance program's budget will be doubled and an annual $7 million has been earmarked for investments in literacy programming for adults and children. An additional $45 million has been secured over four years to invest in publicly-funded universities, as well as setting aside money for a new program to provide tuition relief for the middle class. As a result of a partnership with the federal government, the current budget for health care is increasing by 3.3 per cent, bringing the budget for the Department of Health to $2,657 billion. There is also a $58.2 million investment for the construction, maintenance, and general improvement to the network of nursing homes across the province over the next three years.

Finance Critic Bruce Fitch delivered the Official Opposition's reply to the Budget on February 9. Fitch raised concerns over the government's increased spending and that recent tax increases have not decreased the debt. Fitch questioned the governing party's relationship with the federal government, accusing the Premier of missing a financial opportunity for the people of New Brunswick with regard to the Energy East Pipeline. He called for the Premier to support the findings of the National Energy Board, regardless of the Prime Minister's position. Fitch also questioned certain government initiatives, such as the privatization...