Political battle over spending by New Brunswick government communications wing

<p>FREDERICTON – The governing Tories and Opposition Liberals in New Brunswick are accusing each other of playing politics with Communications New Brunswick, the communications wing of the government.</p> <p>The minister responsible, Margaret-Ann Blaney, says the previous Liberal government used the department to campaign with taxpayers’ money through the use of signs, ads and pre-debate media training for then-premier Shawn Graham.</p> <p>”Why did they spend so much money on signs and ads?,” Blaney asked in the legislature Tuesday. “Signs are not a part of CNB.”</p> <p>Blaney was particularly critical of spending in the department during the Liberals’ final six months in office.</p> <p>She said the department’s budget was $6.5 million last year, but the Liberals exceeded that by $1 million, and the number of employees in the department grew to 104.</p> <p>Blaney said the new government has cut that to 80 positions and expects to reduce it further to 66, with a budget of $5.2 million for the coming year.</p> <p>Blaney said 10 new employees have been hired.</p> <p>Opposition Leader Victor Boudreau said the firing and the new hiring is politically motivated.</p> <p>”Why would you fire somebody one day and then rehire another person for the same job a few weeks later, other than you wanted to get rid of a person?,” he said.</p> <p>Boudreau defends the spending under the previous government, saying they worked to make CNB more open and transparent.</p> <p>”Show me a government that hasn’t put up a sign on a construction site … to let the taxpayers know where their money is going and what projects are being worked on,” he said. </p> <p>Department officials said Tuesday they will release details of last year’s spending.</p>