FREDERICTON, N.B. – As party leaders and candidates hit the road across New Brunswick campaigning for the upcoming provincial election, Global News will keep track of where they are and what they’re saying in our election notebook.
Read all 2014 New Brunswick election notebooks
Here’s what happened Thursday, September 4.
Conservatives: Resource development
Progressive Conservative leader David Alward reinforced his party’s position on shale gas and natural resource development investments.
Alward was in Miramichi Thursday morning, reiterating his plan to generate $10-billion in private sector investment. He also promised to increase a program matching recent grads with jobs in their field of study, by 500 jobs.
Liberals: Daycare support
Liberal leader Brian Gallant was in Fredericton, pledging to spend $120-million over fives years to create 6,000 daycare spaces. Gallant also promised to double the funding for daycare subsidies, and set up a registry to let parents know where spaces are available.
Gallant also promised civil servants and retirees that he would go back to the negotiating table for a open discussion on their pension reforms.
He said the objective would be to come to an agreement on a way forward for their pensions while respecting the financial challenges facing the province.
NDP: Platform
NDP leader Dominic Cardy was in Fredericton, unveiling his party’s complete platform.
Cardy said if elected, he would balance the budget by 2018, while paying down the debt.
Read the party’s full platform here.
Green Party: Poverty reduction
Leader of the Green Party, David Coon pledged to increase social assistance rates if elected. Coon was in Saint John making the announcement as part of his poverty reduction plan.
He said he would also eliminate clawbacks from social assistance and ensure people with an income of $20,000 or less, will pay no provincial income tax.
People’s Alliance: Royalty rates
People’s Alliance of New Brunswick leader Kris Austin said if elected, he would audit the royalty rates for the natural resources sector. Austin said reviewing royalties will ensure fair rates.
He also said his party would create an ombudsman for the forestry sector, to ensure sublicensees and private woodlots are treated fairly.
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