With neither side willing to give an inch, the last three weeks of house sittings at the New Brunswick legislature have been as contentious as ever.
The third session of this legislature, and first with newly elected Opposition Leader Blaine Higgs at the helm of the PC Party, was rife with party leaders pointing fingers at one another.
READ MORE: Newly-elected opposition leader Blaine Higgs says all parties need long-term goal for NB
“We have some serious issues in the province and what we’ve seen is the start of a two year campaign,” Higgs said, referencing Premier Brian Gallant’s Friday speech which closed the debate on his speech from the throne.
“I was hoping we’d have two years of governing and not two years of campaigning, and that was a campaign speech.”
Many, including the only third party member in the house, felt Gallant’s speech concentrated more on the opposition leader and less on how the government will reach the goals they’ve set.
“I was looking for a response that maybe would’ve given some detail on how some of the key objectives were going to be achieved,” explained Green Party Leader David Coon. “It was mostly an attack on the leader of the official opposition and really represented the launching of the next election campaign.”
“I think … that we demonstrated there are two stark visions for our province and it’s important New Brunswickers are aware of this,” Gallant said.
Gallant denied claims his speech centred around the newly elected leader, but he did comment on Higgs’ time as a former minister of Finance.
READ MORE: Literacy levels in New Brunswick middle schools not making the grade
He emphasized that education and health care remain top priorities for his government, claiming a Higgs-run administration would cut funding to those programs.
“Unfortunately many of these challenges exist because of the deep cuts to education made by the leader of the opposition when he was Finance Minister,” Gallant said.
While Higgs didn’t shy away from pointing to tax hikes that he says have steered investors away from the province, he said he hopes both sides can work together on subjects like education.
“If the premier would invite me to meet with him personally we can develop a compromise I’m sure of it,” Higgs said of reworking the recently released 10-year education plan.
“He doesn’t really get it that we have developed education plans by working with community leaders, teachers, educators and people from all around the province,” Gallant said. “We’ve already developed a plan by working with community leaders and educators around the province so he wants to start over.”
The legislature is now recessed and will return on Dec. 6.
Comments