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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/opportunities-new-brunswick-layoffs-1.5183843
Opportunities New Brunswick eliminates 24 full-time positions
Laid-off workers being assigned elsewhere in government, says minister
Opportunities New Brunswick has cut 24 full-time positions. (Opportunities New Brunswick)
The provincial government's lead job-creation agency has slashed more than 15 per cent of its workforce.
Economic Development Minister Mary Wilson confirmed Thursday that Opportunities New Brunswick, a Crown corporation set up by the previous Liberal government, has eliminated 24 full-time positions.
It has also not renewed five contract positions that have expired since March.
"The premier has made it clear that we all have to do our part to balance the budget, and ONB is no different," Wilson said in an interview.
She said the organization is now working on a plan "to operate properly with less money while aligning with new priorities."
"Hopefully, in the very near future, we'll have a spot for them," she said.
Wilson said no ONB programs are being shut down as a result of the cuts.
She
said she believes Opportunities New Brunswick "can deliver on
government's priorities within its current funding," with a focus on
exports, small businesses, reducing costs for entrepreneurs, and "the
highest value projects that produce the best results."
Opportunities New Brunswick received a $40-million budget this year from the Progressive Conservative government, down from the$47-millionbudgeted last year by the Liberals and down from the$44 million it actually spent.
In opposition, the PCs under leader Blaine Higgs frequently scorned ONB's practice of providing outside companies with subsidies to set up in the province and then refusing to reveal how many jobs were actually created.
After a disagreement in 2017 between ONB and the auditor-general over how many of her recommendations the agency was following, Higgs called for the Liberal government to fire CEO Stephen Lund.
The PC throne speech last November said that "success doesn't come from luring one big employer with subsidies, it comes from seeing hundreds of small and medium businesses growing bigger."
In March, before the first PC budget, Lund said the agency was willing to shift its focus toward small businesses if that's what the new government wanted.
"We take our cue from the premier and we want to do our best to make sure we continue to help these companies grow," he said.
CBC's Journalistic Standards and PracticesEconomic Development Minister Mary Wilson confirmed Thursday that Opportunities New Brunswick, a Crown corporation set up by the previous Liberal government, has eliminated 24 full-time positions.
It has also not renewed five contract positions that have expired since March.
"The premier has made it clear that we all have to do our part to balance the budget, and ONB is no different," Wilson said in an interview.
She said the organization is now working on a plan "to operate properly with less money while aligning with new priorities."
Economic
Development Minister Mary Wilson says the agency is working on
operating 'with less money while aligning with new priorities.' (CBC)
Wilson
said of the 24 people whose jobs were cut, 20 have been assigned to
positions elsewhere in the provincial government. ONB is looking for
spots for the other four before they are laid off in another 30 days."Hopefully, in the very near future, we'll have a spot for them," she said.
Wilson said no ONB programs are being shut down as a result of the cuts.
Opportunities New Brunswick received a $40-million budget this year from the Progressive Conservative government, down from the$47-millionbudgeted last year by the Liberals and down from the$44 million it actually spent.
Call for transparency
In opposition, the PCs under leader Blaine Higgs frequently scorned ONB's practice of providing outside companies with subsidies to set up in the province and then refusing to reveal how many jobs were actually created.
After a disagreement in 2017 between ONB and the auditor-general over how many of her recommendations the agency was following, Higgs called for the Liberal government to fire CEO Stephen Lund.
The PC throne speech last November said that "success doesn't come from luring one big employer with subsidies, it comes from seeing hundreds of small and medium businesses growing bigger."
Premier Blaine Higgs has called for greater transparency for Opportunities New Brunswick. (CBC)
The
People's Alliance, which is supporting the PC minority government on
confidence votes in the legislature, has called for an end to what it
calls "corporate handouts" in favour of tax cuts and reduced red tape.In March, before the first PC budget, Lund said the agency was willing to shift its focus toward small businesses if that's what the new government wanted.
"We take our cue from the premier and we want to do our best to make sure we continue to help these companies grow," he said.
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