https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-budget-steeves-1.5491938
Higgs government delivers 2nd balanced budget, projects $92M surplus in 2020-21
People's Alliance likes budget, but Green MLAs still making up mind
· CBC News · Posted: Mar 10, 2020 8:00 AM AT
Finance Minister Ernie Steeves delivered the 2020-21 provincial budget on Tuesday. (Mike Heenan/CBC)
The Higgs government has delivered a second consecutive balanced budget, a fiscal plan with nods to both tax reductions and increased social spending and some carbon tax sleight of hand.
The budget also projects a surplus of $92.4 million in the 2020-21 fiscal year, leading to a $129.3 million reduction to New Brunswick's accumulated debt.
The small but significant increases in social assistance rates and reductions in property tax rates could help the budget win the support of other parties in the legislature, where the Progressive Conservative government does not have a majority.
"We've turned our situation around in order to allow us today to protect our most vulnerable, our communities, help our businesses grow, and allow us to better protect our province against unexpected events," Finance Minister Ernie Steeves said in his budget speech in the legislature Tuesday.
But he also said the balancing act was not politically motivated to help the PCs win a key vote on the budget next week.
WATCH: Highlights of Finance Minister Ernie Steeves as he delivers balanced budget
PC's balanced budget promises higher social assistance rates and reduction in some property taxes. 2:47
"This is to save New Brunswick, not to save our government," he told reporters.
The black ink is helped by a major increase in federal transfer payments for the coming year. Those payments are jumping by more than $200 million.
"Certainly the choices weren't as hard this year as they were last year," Steeves said, though he credited prudent management by the Tories more than the injection of cash from Ottawa.
The rosier financial picture will allow the province to spend more money, including an increase of five per cent in the three main social assistance programs affecting single recipients.
About 15,000 people in the three programs, or about two-thirds of all recipients, will see the increase May 1.
Green Party Leader David Coon said he and his two fellow Green MLAs will take time to review the budget before deciding how to vote. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
A year later, the rates in those three categories will be indexed to the consumer price index, meaning they'll rise automatically at the rate of inflation. Other rates will stay the same.
Green Party Leader David Coon had been calling for increases and his vote could be key to the budget passing or being defeated in a vote expected March 20. A rejection of the budget would trigger a provincial election.
He said he and his two fellow Green MLAs were not ready yet to decide how they'll vote.
"The balance of power has shifted in this legislature toward the Green caucus, so we take that responsibility very seriously," he said.
"So we're going to take our time to reflect on the budget, discuss it, and in the end come up with a decision that in our view is in the best interests of our province."
People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin said he supports the budget, given the property tax cuts. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Health spending will also increase by 3.9 per cent, with some of that increase paying for 26 new nurse practitioner positions around the province.
The Progressive Conservatives also plan to begin gradually reducing some taxes in the coming year, a move the People's Alliance has been calling for.
Starting in April, the so-called "double taxation" of apartment properties will start to be reduced with a goal of cutting it in half over four years.
"We're very pleased to see it's a decrease," said People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin. "It's not as much as we'd like. We'd like to see the elimination a lot sooner but it is certainly a step in the right direction."
The PCs will also reduce the non-residential property tax rate, which applies to private businesses, by 8.25 per cent per year until 2024.
Austin said the tax measures have prompted all three Alliance MLAs to support the budget.
"It's going to be a hard budget to vote against," he said.
Fears of plans to revive ER closures
Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers said his party still plans to vote no in the hopes of defeating the government and triggering an election.He said comments by Steeves about the need for health reform to continue shows the PC government plans to revive its cancelled plan to close small-hospital emergency departments.
"The budget is going to serve as the cornerstone for the government to continue its cuts to health care," Vickers said.
Steeves fielded questions from reporters Tuesday. (Mike Heenan/CBC)
Saint John Harbour Liberal MLA Gerry Lowe has said in recent weeks he may vote for the budget, depending on what's in it.
Lowe left the legislature Tuesday without speaking to reporters.
Vickers said Lowe will face consequences if he breaks ranks with the party to vote for the budget, a move that could help keep the PCs in power.
"Obviously, there would be consequences," Vickers said. "This will be a whipped vote, and if he votes against the directions of the party there would be consequences."
Carbon tax plan
The budget also lays out specific numbers for the Higgs government's carbon tax, which is set to replace the federal carbon price in New Brunswick on April 1 — but only if legislation passes in time.The federal price for consumers was set to rise to 6.6 cents per litre on April 1. The new provincial tax will be the same amount, but the PCs will cut the New Brunswick gas tax by 4.6 cents, leading to a net two-cent carbon tax at the pumps.
The CBC's Jacques Poitras breaks down the possible scenarios that might trigger an election after the provincial budget Tuesday. 2:22
The province will collect $129 million from the carbon tax. Of that, $36 million will go into a fund for climate change projects.
"There are exciting projects that I'm sure the Green Party and others throughout the province, throughout the government, will come up with," Steeves said.
The rest will offset the impact of the carbon tax: $83 million will go into the province's general revenues to replace the gas-tax reduction, and $9 million will go to natural gas distributor Liberty Utilities to offset the impact of the carbon tax.
Ottawa's climate plan requires the provincial carbon tax to apply to natural gas, but by giving $9 million — the same amount it will collect — to Liberty Utilities, the province is erasing the impact of the tax on the company.
The reduction in the debt, to $13.7 billion by the end of the fiscal year, translates into a $20 million reduction in what the province will have to spend on interest payments on the debt.
286 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
"Obviously, there would be consequences," Vickers said. "This will be a whipped vote, and if he votes against the directions of the party there would be consequences."
Too Too Funny Methinks Vicky is gonna have to whip Gerry Baby from the peanut gallery.N'esy Pas?
Lowe avoided the media but he told Higgy's buddy Chucky Leblanc that he is not gonna go back to municipal politicking. Perhaps Lowe will cross the floor before being abused by Vicky and his old buddies. In my humble opinion it make for a great circus act to see Lowe challenge Vicky's leadership abilities and go for his job but we all know the Irving Clan and the SANB would have none of that but I bet the PANB would love it EH?
Cory Kamermans
Reply to @David Amos: why do you end every comment with N'esy Pas?
Shawn Tabor
92 million, why does that number stand out. Anyone, LOL.
David Amos
Methinks Higgy must be overjoyed to see that everybody is Happy Happy Happy and that Minister Mikey Holland will make certain that not only will we have a turkey hunt to look forward to but no doubt the EUB he oversees will say OK to the Green Party's wish for "Not So Smart" Meters too as long as they support this budget N'esy Pas?
Lewis
Taylor
Reply to @David Amos:
Easy on the edibles.
Easy on the edibles.
David Amos
Reply to @Lewis
Taylor:Folks who know me are well aware that. I don't smoke dope or eat
it and rarely have a drink and never had a beer in my life. Tobacco and
coffee are contain the drugs I ingest. That said methinks Cardy no doubt
knows whether or not you have had more than enough questionable butter
tarts for the both of us N'esy Pas?
Kevin Cormier
Less for roads? Min. Steeves may need hiking boots to get over those pot holes.
David Amos
Reply to @Kevin
Cormier: Methinks you need some of Cardy's special butter tarts to calm
you down so you can get the knots out of your fancy red knickers N'esy
Pas?
Kevin Cormier
$92million in surplus... ok, so what didn't get done.
David Amos
Reply to @Kevin Cormier: Ask Higgy
Kyle Woodman
Can't wait for my property company to voluntarily lower my rent.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Kyle
Woodman: *snort* If you think the decrease in property tax is going to
get passed on to the tenants, I have to wonder what you're smoking.
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Me Too but methinks the young fella was merely being facetious N'esy Pas?
Fred
Brewer
Reply to @SarahRose
Werner: A lesson in basic economics involves supply, demand and price.
If I own a rental property, and I get a reduction in tax and can use
that reduction to reduce rent charged to my tenants and thus fill my
vacant apartments then I will do so. It makes no sense to have empty
apartments. Then my competition who also has empty apartments will also
lower their rents. This my friends is the beauty of a free market
economy. It may not happen overnight but trust me, it will happen. The
market will always respond.
Roy Nicholl
Reply to @SarahRose Werner wrote:
" If you think the decrease in property tax is going to get passed on to the tenants, I have to wonder what you're smoking."
What decrease in property tax? The assessment - and, consequently, the amount of taxes due - went up on all of our properties this year.
" If you think the decrease in property tax is going to get passed on to the tenants, I have to wonder what you're smoking."
What decrease in property tax? The assessment - and, consequently, the amount of taxes due - went up on all of our properties this year.
David
Peters
Reply to @Kyle Woodman:
There would have to massive reform in areas like building/tax/fire codes as well as massive property tax reductions.
A miniscule reduction on one inch of the miles of red tape is more gimmicky than anything else, imo.
There would have to massive reform in areas like building/tax/fire codes as well as massive property tax reductions.
A miniscule reduction on one inch of the miles of red tape is more gimmicky than anything else, imo.
Marc Martin
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: Your waiting for nothing.
Samual Johnston
Reply to @Kyle
Woodman: if passed the tax measure may not give you a decrease in rent
but it will help slow down increases for many.
Ferdinand Boudreau
Reply to @Kyle
Woodman: The government got to put something in place to insure the
renters get the benefit not the owners. This should me a move to lower
rents to make the province more affordable to reside in? There should be
strong fines to owners who absorb the tax cut without passing it on.
Let see what happens?
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Roy Nicholl: Read the story, Roy.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Fred
Brewer: Your argument only works if landlords have vacant apartments to
fill. When vacancy rates are low, as they are now, landlords have no
incentive to pass along their savings. When vacancy rates are high,
landlords stop increasing rents no matter what the property tax rates
do.
David
Peters
Reply to @SarahRose Werner:
When vacancy rates get high enough, what's the point of ownership?
Red tape and high taxes are the problem, not the solution.
When vacancy rates get high enough, what's the point of ownership?
Red tape and high taxes are the problem, not the solution.
David
Peters
Reply to @SarahRose Werner:
Even charities cannot afford to give away housing to the needy, as was reported on recently.
Building maintenance costs have skyrocketed due to local and provincial governments using them as cash cows. This didn't happen overnight, but this is where we are now, unfortunately.
Even charities cannot afford to give away housing to the needy, as was reported on recently.
Building maintenance costs have skyrocketed due to local and provincial governments using them as cash cows. This didn't happen overnight, but this is where we are now, unfortunately.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @David
Peters: When vacancy rates get high enough, the point of ownership is
hanging on to the building until vacancy rates go down again, at which
point the landlord can either raise rents again or sell the building for
a better price than they would have gotten when vacancy rates were
high.
Marc Martin
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: There is no vacancy in any building, if you think rent is going down your in for a bad surprise.
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Methinks you don't have to read deep to see that I was agreeing with you and figured that the young fella was as well N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: OOPS My apologies It is I who can't read deep You were obviously addressing the Peters dude not mean old me. Methinks its time me to enjoy a long winters nap and chuckle at the nonsense of it all N'esy Pas?
Marc Martin
*including an end to so-called "double taxation" on apartment buildings* By removing the double taxe the CoRservatives will have to get more revenues somewhere brace for impact.
Jerry Dion
Reply to @Marc
Martin: Kinda how like the liberals had 10 tax/fee increases to fund
their promises? and still wasn't enough to fund said promises lol. Red
and blue both the same
"Despite 10 tax increases in 2 years to bring in $500M, Liberals haven't delivered on 2014 platform"
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/gallant-government-anniversary-analysis-1.3772934
"Despite 10 tax increases in 2 years to bring in $500M, Liberals haven't delivered on 2014 platform"
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/gallant-government-anniversary-analysis-1.3772934
Marc Martin
Reply to @Jerry Dion: That tax was opposed by Higgs why hasn't he removed it yet ?
Jerry Dion
Reply to @Marc
Martin: Many things get opposed and promised, doesn't mean its done
right away. This is the second budget of this government and we don't
know whats in it so i would wait and see before sitting there and
criticizing.
Marc Martin
Reply to @Jerry Dion:
Well we do know by removing the tax he will give more money to the
rich...Unless your a building owner or a rich person with several
properties that is not a good sign for anyone.
David Peters
Reply to @Marc Martin:
Lowering property ownership costs allows for, possibly, increased affordable housing supply.
That benefits practically everyone.
Lowering property ownership costs allows for, possibly, increased affordable housing supply.
That benefits practically everyone.
Steve Gordon
Reply to @Marc
Martin: Maybe because he is now stuck trying to pay the credit card
gallant and his buddies racked up during their 4 years of non stop
spending.
David Amos
Reply to @Marc
Martin: Methinks we should brace ourselves for the storm of crocodile
tears that you SANB/liberal dudes will rain down upon us until the
budget vote N'esy Pas?
Marc Martin
Reply to @David Peters: Affordable housing will not be hapening why would these rich builders lower prices ?
Marc Martin
Reply to @David Amos:
Your harrassing me again Davis ? Maybe you should give me the phone
number of your imaginary sheriff so i can send him to you.
David Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: Your buddy Davis may enjoy talking to this dude 506-658-2569
Marc Martin
*including an end to so-called "double taxation" on apartment buildings* There ya go help the people who have money, the Con way.
Jason Inness
Reply to @Marc
Martin: No, this helps people that are renting. Their rent includes the
double tax. It needs to in order for renters to turn a profit.
Removing this double taxation will put downward pressure on rents, and
through competition, I think you will see a reduction in rents.
Marc Martin
Reply to @Jason Inness: You really think the building owners will lower the rent ???? wow no wonder NB is in a mess...
Bryan
Jones
Reply to @Marc
Martin: I sometimes wonder whether you're joking. The people who WILL
have the money will be the renters, and they are definitely not the
rich/elite. You've previously suggested that it's not double taxation
but the primary property rate includes a discount. So, if we call it a
discount, why are Saint John's rates without a discount $3.70 per $100
of value and Vancouver's $0.22? Who is that helping?
Marc Martin
Reply to @Bryan
Jones: Again do you believe the owners will lower the rent when they get
that tax break ??? Seriously ??? And that tax revenue will be lost and
will need to be replaced, where do you think the CoRservatives get that
money ? Tha average Joe and the poor will pay trough cut into service
and health reforms, you people have no clue.
Bryan
Jones
Reply to @Marc Martin:
It's the market that will decide what the rents paid will be. Many
landlords set rents at the price they do, not because they want to screw
the poor whilst at the same time paying for their yacht in Monaco but
because if they charged less then they would make a loss. If their
taxes reduce they it will only take a few to reduce the rent and the
renters will move to them if they get a better deal for a similar
property. And when one provider gives the public what they want then
the others will have to follow suit or they lose out, it's called
competition.
Marc Martin
Reply to @Bryan
Jones: Your living in a dreamland buddy. *It's the market that will
decide what the rents paid will be* And thats why the rent will not go
down.
Bryan
Jones
Reply to @Marc Martin: You've got a serious issue with people who own rental property, haven't you? Leave it, move on.
Jason Inness
Reply to @Marc
Martin: It only takes a couple of renters, with some vacancy, to lower
their prices to start the whole thing. A few years ago in Moncton
renters were paying moving costs, giving away big screen TVs, giving a
free month rent, etc. to get people to move into their empty units.
When you have a large number of suppliers (i.e. Renters) of a commodity
(i.e. rental units), it doesn't take much to drive prices down.
Archie Levesque
Reply to @Bryan
Jones: No Marc's big issue is that it is a non-Liberal government in
power. If it was Vickers offering up the same plan he would be all for
it
Bryan
Jones
Reply to @Archie Levesque: Good point. You will let me know when Vickers has any plan, won't you?
Archie Levesque
Reply to @Bryan
Jones: Sorry but they will have to form a new committee to study the
issue further to find out that the other recent studies that were
performed provided the same results.
Joseph Vacher
Reply to @Marc Martin: dont be pissed at your lack of success in life
David Amos
Reply to @Joseph Vacher: Methinks many agree that he certainly should be disappointed with himself N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Welcome to the circus
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/budget-new-brunswick-david-coon-covid-19-election-1.5491069
Coon may help keep Higgs in power to avoid election during potential COVID-19 outbreak
PC minority government to table budget Tuesday, Liberals have vowed to try to defeat government
· CBC News · Posted: Mar 09, 2020 3:36 PM AT
Green Party Leader David Coon held a news conference Monday afternoon to voice his concerns about what impact COVID-19 might have on a potential election campaign. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Green Party Leader
David Coon is opening the door to keeping the Higgs minority government
in power to avoid sending New Brunswickers to the polls in the midst of a
potential COVID-19 outbreak.
No
one in the province has tested positive for the virus, but Coon says
one way to limit the spread of the disease when it arrives would be to
avoid the large gatherings that are part and parcel of an election
campaign.
"The
coronavirus is in my thinking, of course," Coon told reporters Monday
afternoon. "How can it not be? There's got to be an adult in the room on
this.
"Exactly
how do you campaign if you're got an outbreak of coronavirus? How do
you have rallies if you've got an outbreak of coronavirus? These are all
important questions that we're all grappling with right now."
Municipal elections are scheduled for May 11, and Higgs said Elections New Brunswick told him it would be easier to not have overlapping campaign periods.
But he said the COVID-19 risk "absolutely played a role" in the decision as well.
Voters in Saint Croix and Shediac Bay-Dieppe have been without members in the legislature since last year.
Higgs said if a serious outbreak happens closer to the byelection dates, he has the power to postpone the votes in the two ridings.
"If it gets to a point where it would be a risk, we'll have to think about that and readjust."
The CBC's Jacques Poitras breaks down the possible scenarios that might trigger an election after the provincial budget Tuesday. 2:22
Liberals lack votes to topple government
Higgs's Progressive Conservative minority government will table its second budget on Tuesday, kicking off a debate that could culminate in the legislature rejecting the document and triggering an early provincial election.
Liberal
Leader Kevin Vickers has vowed that his party will do everything it can
to bring down the government and send voters to the polls.
But the Liberals lack the votes to do that on their own and would likely need the support of the Greens to make it happen.
Coon
has so far refused to say how he'll vote, laying out a list of things
he'd like to see in the budget without clearly indicating if any of them
would lead him to cast his vote with the PCs.
On Monday afternoon,
Finance Minister Ernie Steeves said Coon had been briefed on the
contents of the budget, including what Steeves called a "significant"
increase in social assistance benefits — something the Green leader has
asked for.
"I find that
Mr. Coon is a thoughtful man, but he certainly didn't give me an
indication on how he's going to vote," Steeves said.
But
just hours later Coon introduced the new factor in his thinking: the
near-certainty that cases of COVID-19 will show up in New Brunswick.
The
Green Party leader said he's confident that provincial institutions
such as Public Health and the Emergency Measures Organization are "very
well prepared" and he believes they could function well even during a
campaign.
During a pre-budget tease Monday, when Finance Minister Ernie Steeves displayed his new budget shoes, he announced the budget will have a surplus, will exceed a $125 million debt-reduction target, and will increase social assistance payments. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
But
he said many typical campaign activities, such as door-to-door
campaigning and handshaking, and large rallies with supporters, would be
unwise if the virus reaches the province.
"A campaign would have to look quite different. I don't know what it would look like, exactly, but it would have to change."
He did not say explicitly that he would vote for the PC budget to avoid a campaign.
"I'm just saying it needs to be a discussion among all the parties to see what people's views are on that," he said.
"It's
a serious matter and I think all the political parties need to think
about what this government needs to do and what this legislature needs
to do regarding the soon-to-arrive coronavirus in New Brunswick … so we
need to have that discussion in the legislature."
"I always thought they should rethink their plans," he said. "Certainly for this reason, I think it's a consideration that we don't put people at risk.
"I think there are a lot of additional reasons they should be rethinking their plans, but this might actually be one that gets traction."
A spokesperson for Vickers said he was not in Fredericton on Monday to comment.
45 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.David Amos
Surprise Surprise Surprise
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos:
This is not news Some folks should recall the Green Meanie boss saying
he was going to support since Higgy aka Mr Flip Flop hauled in his horns
over the emergency room nonsense and Vicky's pants caught fire N'esy
Pas?
David Amos
The latest wicked game at the circus begins today. Methinks Higgy wins again N'esy Pas?
What say you?
Survey Says?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-budget-double-tax-cut-private-sector-1.5493205
'Double taxation' cut will energize private sector, say N.B. business leaders
Province reducing tax on buildings like rental properties by 50%
· CBC News · Posted: Mar 10, 2020 8:44 PM AT
Finance Minister Ernie Steeves unveiled a handful of tax breaks for the private sector during Tuesday's budget announcement. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Rental property owners and business officials say new tax cuts announced by the Progressive Conservative government Tuesday will help stoke the New Brunswick economy and spur construction.
Finance Minister Ernie Steeves announced a 50 per cent reduction in the provincial non-owner-occupied property residential tax over a four-year period starting in the 2021 taxation year.
Owners and developers have long sought to scrap the so-called "double tax" which levies a provincial tax on top of the municipal tax for buildings like rental properties and cottages.
Willy Scholten, president of the New Brunswick Apartment Owners Association, said his group has been lobbying government officials on the issue since 2004.
He believes the move will lead to new construction.
Non-owner-occupied properties, like rental properties, must also pay a provincial tax in additional to the municipal tax. (Bryan Eneas/CBC)
"We have a lot of issues right now with not enough supply of rental apartments in the province, and a lot of our association attributes a lot of that to this double taxation," Scholten said following Steeves's address in the legislature.
"We don't have outside people coming to the province and saying this is a good place to do business."
The tax rate will drop from $1.233 per $100 of assessed value to $0.5617 — or about 14.04 cents per year until 2024.
The owners' association has proposed phasing the tax out completely over a three-year period, but Scholten said this is a step in the right direction.
"We hope that they continue after here to the eventual full elimination, so we are no longer offside with the rest of the country," said Scholten, adding New Brunswick is the lone Canadian jurisdiction to impose such a tax.
More budget day coverage:
"It's not a full elimination and we don't know what's going to happen with assessments either along the way," he said. "So we'll have to wait to see what happens with our property tax bills."
The PCs also plan to reduce the non-residential property tax rate — including commercial and industrial buildings — by 8.25 cents per year until 2024. That will decrease the rate from $2.1860 per $100 of assessment to $1.8560.
PC's balanced budget promises higher social assistance rates and reduction in some property taxes. 2:47
The $10.2-billion provincial budget projects a $92.4-million surplus and to reduce the net debt by $129.3 million. The budget is buoyed, however, by a $200-million increase in federal transfer payments.
"We have to, beyond balancing the budget, give back," Steeves told reporters.
"We thought [the tax reductions] were ones that would help businesses and, ultimately, help a lot of New Brunswickers and, ultimately, help the economy of New Brunswick."
'You have to focus on the private sector'
The budget struck a chord with People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin. His party has long argued against double taxation for non-owner-occupied properties."If you want true economic growth, you have to focus on the private sector," he said. "The best way to that is tax reduction and deregulation."
Austin said all three Alliance members will vote in favour, while Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers maintained that his party will vote against the budget in an attempt to topple the government.
Speaking to reporters at the New Brunswick Legislature on Tuesday, People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin said, 'It's a good budget.' (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Green Leader David Coon told reporters his caucus — and its three crucial votes — has reserved a decision until meeting to discuss.
Also included in the budget is the Higgs government's carbon pricing plan. It will be set at 6.6 cents per litre at the pumps — same as the federal backstop — but the Tories will cut the New Brunswick gas tax by 4.6 cents, creating a net two-cent increase.
The government has not passed its carbon tax legislation and if the budget is defeated and an election is called, it won't get the chance, meaning the federal price will be in place on April 1.
David Duplisea, CEO of the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce, said if that's the case, it will make New Brunswick less competitive with neighbouring provinces like Nova Scotia.
Encouraged by the private-sector support, Duplisea said there isn't anything in or not in the budget worth toppling the government over.
The CBC's Jacques Poitras breaks down the possible scenarios that might trigger an election after the provincial budget Tuesday. 2:22
He said many of his 700 members wanted the tax breaks in one form or another, and this creates a "positive investment climate."
"These items … we have been asking for these and we're confident that this will help to spur investment in our respective regions and in the province as a whole," Duplisea said.
Both the Saint John and Fredericton chambers of commerce lauded the government for reducing the net debt and balancing the budget.
Krista Ross, CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, specifically highlighted the double taxation policy in a statement Tuesday.
"This will make business in New Brunswick more competitive and give us a chance to build economic momentum, which in turn will allow government to further reduce debt and deliver more services," Ross said.
"In the coming years, this will be even more important as we cannot expect to receive large increases in equalization payments on an annual basis."
With files from Jacques Poitras and Ed Hunter
132 Comments
David Amos
It truly is quite comical that nobody can see through this nonsense Its a mad mad world.
Shawn Tabor
Yes, why can’t folks see threw this. A very sad state of mind. I like to read the praises from the human folks. The Perfect Storm just got better, hang onto your hat, it might get a little windy. LOL
David Amos
Reply to @Shawn
Tabor: Methinks your buddies should at least agree that we get the
government we deserve after their beloved Green Party supports Higgy's
budget N'esy Pas?
Roy Kirk
The results of this experiment may be instructive. Government is a major leasee of commercial office space in NB. So it an other leasees should get a proportionate reduction in the rents they they pay for such space, right?
No, I can hear the excuse now: 'Rents haven't gone down, but they're lover than they otherwise might have been.' The response to incontrovertible data is usually unprovable speculation. ;-)
Dan
Armitage
Reply to @Roy Kirk:
your right Roy myself I will not be lowering the rent nor will I be
raising it since I keep it as low as possible for my tenants. If this
tax break did not get fixed the rent would be going up. With the
increase at other levels insurance water sewage pretty much everything
has gone up and like always we the consumers have to pay to stay.
Marc
Martin
Reply to @Dan Armitage: *myself I will not be lowering the rent* Finally one that is honest.
Lou Bell
Reply to @Dan
Armitage: So are you an owner or a renter ? In one sentence you claim
you are one , in the next the other ! So which is it ??
Lou Bell
Reply to @Marc
Martin: If you could understand his last sentence , he says " we the
consumers have to pay to stay " !!! Something doesn't add up !!!!!!!
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Methinks your SANB/liberal buddy is crying quite a river just as I
predicted and your other buddy Deschamps is clever enough stay out of
the fray thus far N'esy Pas?
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