New Brunswick/ Nouveau-Brunswick.

• Author: Myles, Diane Taylor
• Position: Legislative Reports/Rapport legislatifs - Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Cananda

The First Session of the 56th Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick was convened at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 6, 2007. Eugene McGinley, Liberal MLA for Grand Lake-Gagetown was elected Speaker. Mr. McGinley, first elected in a 1972 by-election to represent the riding of Bathurst, was re-elected in the 1974 provincial election. On June 9, 2003, he was again elected to the Legislative Assembly to represent the constituency of Grand Lake. He was re-elected in the provincial election of September 18, 2006, to represent the new electoral district of Grand Lake-Gagetown.

Immediately following the election of Speaker, the House recessed until 3 p.m. for the formal Opening and the delivery of the Speech from the Throne.

Lieutenant-Governor Hermenegilde Chiasson delivered the Speech from the Throne, the first for the new Liberal government under

Premier Shawn Graham. In an excerpt from the speech, the government announced its goal of making the province self-sufficient:

Your government is driven by the goal of making New Brunswick self-sufficient over the next 20 years. This means increasing New Brunswick's population, economic output, productivity and income levels. ... Before embarking on any significant journey, there are preparations which must be undertaken. It is this preparatory work that will be the focus of this legislative session. Day one initiatives of the new government included a 3.8 cent per litre reduction in provincial tax on gasoline; first year university student grants; elimination of parental and spousal contribution requirements; removal of seniors' homes, assets and life savings from the calculation of nursing home fees; and a memorandum of understanding on Saint John Harbour cleanup.

Other initiatives outlined in the Throne Speech include a plan for education to implement the MacKay Report recommendations; a community schools policy to enhance the quality of rural and urban education; a proposed Post Secondary. Student Financial Assistance Act; a new select committee to address long-term literacy challenges; a feasibility study for a second nuclear reactor at Point Lepreau; examination of the potential of sending natural gas to northern New Brunswick; exploration of prospective markets in Atlantic Canada and New England to grow the energy sector; a new energy policy; review of the Electricity Act; a plan to address demographic challenges; a program to stimulate capital investment for small business start-up; a Northern New Brunswick Initiative to ensure adequate infrastructure for economic development; strategic assistance for the forest industry, and a prescription monitoring plan.

The government announced that it intends to forge a new relationship with Aboriginal communities through removal of the Ganong Line division between Mi'kmaq and Maliseet communities, the designation of September 24 as Treaty Day and working with the federal government and First Nations to establish a Bilateral and Tripartite Forum.

In responding to the Throne Speech, Opposition Leader Jeannot Volpe (PC, Madawaska-les-Lacs) claimed that the Liberal government of today is facing the same challenges that the previous Progressive Conservative government faced over more than seven years. He noted that certain initiatives put forward in the Throne Speech were inspired by the work of the previous government. He commended the present government for continuing the plan to add legal assistants to support social workers, but noted that the plan was ready to be announced in August. He applauded the decision to maintain a private automobile insurance system, noting that the Liberals had considered a public system but once elected, the new government had changed their minds. Continuing, he indicated that the PC government had established the initiatives to make automobile insurance more affordable. The Leader of the Opposition commended the government for maintaining the gas regulation system noting however, that the new government's decision to review fuel prices weekly does not benefit the middle class and has simply made the oil industry happy. He claimed that the Liberal government had put their stamp on the previous government's NB Power no-disconnect policy. He pointed out that the for mer Conservative government had supported well-designed measures for conservation and energy efficiency, having created in 2005 the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency of New Brunswick. With regard to announced health initiatives, he noted that nurse practitioners are being trained in New Brunswick, and that the previous government had already discussed a plan to consolidate all ambulance services. Mr. Volpe claimed that the new government needs to clarify its position on the environment and that the Premier was confusing the public and distancing himself from Kyoto Protocol objectives. He stated that the new government will also have to provide more support for regions in the province and noted that New Brunswick is as much a rural province as an urban one. In conclusion, the Opposition Leader remarked that the full legislative agenda he expected to see had been transformed into a "slimming diet."

On February 6, Roy Boudreau, (L, Campbellton-Restigouche Centre) and Brian Kenny, (L, Bathurst) were appointed to serve as Deputy Speakers and chairs of the Committees of the Whole House.

Following six days of debate, the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne, moved by Cheryl Lavoie, (L, Nepisiguit) and seconded by Rick Brewer (L, Southwest Miramichi) passed on February 16.

The 2007-2008 budget was brought down on March 13, 2007, by Finance Minister Victor Boudreau (L, Shediac-Cap-Pele) and promised greater self-sufficiency for the province, focusing on the priorities of health care, education, senior care and energy...