Date: Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 7:47 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: RE Calls from Moncton RCMP (506 856 8139) about ‘PJ’ Andreetti and I
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Thank you for your email. Your thoughts, comments and input are greatly valued.
You can be assured that all emails and letters are carefully read, reviewed and taken into consideration.
If your question or concern is constituency related, please reach out to my constituency office assistant Kim Carvell by email at Kim.Carvell@gnb.ca or by phone by calling (506) 277-6020.
------------------------------
Nous vous remercions pour votre courriel. Vos opinions, commentaires et suggestions sont grandement appréciés.
Soyez assuré que tous les courriels et les lettres qui nous sont acheminés sont attentivement lus, examinés et pris en considération.
Pour toute question ou préoccupation sur un sujet relatif à la circonscription, veuillez contacter Kim Carvell, mon adjointe de circonscription, par courriel au Kim.Carvell@gnb.ca ou par téléphone au 506 277-6020.
Thank you,
Hon. / L’hon Bill Hogan
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development/ Ministre de l'Éducation et du Développement de la petite enfance
250 rue King St, Fredericton
N.B. E3B 9M9 Canada
Tel/Tél: (506) 453- 2523
Email / Courriel : Bill.hogan@gnb.ca
Constituency office/ bureau de circonscription:
639 Main Street
Woodstock NB E7M 2C7
Tel/Tél: (506) 277-6020
From: Wilson, Sherry (DH/MS) <Sherry.Wilson@gnb.ca>
Date: Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 7:47 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: RE Calls from Moncton RCMP (506 856 8139) about ‘PJ’ Andreetti and I
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 8:01 PM
Subject: Fwd: RE Calls from Moncton RCMP (506 856 8139) about ‘PJ’ Andreetti and I
To: Ross.Wetmore <Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca>, <connielarson.nbliberal@gmail.com>, <DonMonahan@hotmail.com>
Cc: <blaine.higgs@pcnb.ca>, <info@pcnb.ca>, <Rob.weir.riverview@gmail.com>, <davemonctoncentre@gmail.com>, <michelmorinpcnb49@gmail.com>, <marcandrerosspcnb47@gmail.com>, <vote4chippin@outlook.com>, <info@votefaytene.ca>
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 7:46 PM
Subject: RE Calls from Moncton RCMP (506 856 8139) about ‘PJ’ Andreetti and I
To: Daniel.J.Allain <Daniel.J.Allain@gnb.ca>, jeff.carr <Jeff.Carr@gnb.ca>, Richard.Ames <Richard.Ames@gnb.ca>, kathy.bockus <Kathy.Bockus@gnb.ca>, Gary.Crossman <Gary.Crossman@gnb.ca>, Bill.Hogan <Bill.Hogan@gnb.ca>, Bill.Oliver <Bill.Oliver@gnb.ca>, mary.wilson <mary.wilson@gnb.ca>, Ryan.Cullins <Ryan.Cullins@gnb.ca>, Mike.Dawson <Mike.Dawson@gnb.ca>, bruce.fitch <bruce.fitch@gnb.ca>, Arlene.Dunn <Arlene.Dunn@gnb.ca>, hugh.flemming <Hugh.Flemming@gnb.ca>, jill.green <Jill.Green@gnb.ca>, Holland, Mike (LEG) <mike.holland@gnb.ca>, Trevor.Holder <Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca>, Margaret.Johnson <Margaret.Johnson@gnb.ca>, Glen.Savoie <Glen.Savoie@gnb.ca>, Tammy.Scott-Wallace <Tammy.Scott-Wallace@gnb.ca>, Rejean.A.Savoie <Rejean.A.Savoie@gnb.ca>, Dorothy.Shephard <Dorothy.Shephard@gnb.ca>, ernie.steeves <Ernie.Steeves@gnb.ca>, Greg.Turner <Greg.Turner@gnb.ca>, sherry.wilson <Sherry.Wilson@gnb.ca>
Cc: blaine.higgs <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, <Steve.Outhouse@gnb.ca>, BrianThomasMacdonald <BrianThomasMacdonald@gmail.
Date: Fri, Jul 26, 2024 at 10:23 AM
Subject: Automatic reply: RE Calls from Moncton RCMP (506 856 8139) about ‘PJ’ Andreetti and I
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
The
Department of Finance acknowledges receipt of your electronic
correspondence. Please be assured that we appreciate receiving your
comments.
Le ministère des Finances Canada accuse réception de votre courriel. Nous vous assurons que vos commentaires sont les bienvenus.
From: Ministerial Correspondence Unit - Justice Canada <mcu@justice.gc.ca>
Date: Fri, Jul 26, 2024 at 10:23 AM
Subject: Automatic Reply
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Thank you for writing to the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Due to the volume of correspondence addressed to the Minister, please note that there may be a delay in processing your email. Rest assured that your message will be carefully reviewed.
We do not respond to correspondence that contains offensive language.
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Merci d'avoir écrit à l'honorable Arif Virani, ministre de la Justice et procureur
général du Canada.
En raison du volume de correspondance adressée au ministre, veuillez
prendre note qu'il pourrait y avoir un retard dans le traitement de
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Date: Fri, Jul 26, 2024 at 10:22 AM
Subject: RE Calls from Moncton RCMP (506 856 8139) about ‘PJ’ Andreetti and I
To: <Eric.Rousselle@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, <rcmpnb.grcnb@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, blaine.higgs <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, kris.austin <kris.austin@gnb.ca>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>, pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, fin.minfinance-financemin.fin <fin.minfinance-financemin.fin@canada.ca>, washington field <washington.field@ic.fbi.gov>
Contact information
Sgt. Eric Rousselle
Codiac Regional RCMP
506-857-2400
rcmpnb.grcnb@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Tue, Jul 23, 2024 at 6:16 PM
Subject: Re: In his final words as Canada’s chief of defence staff, Gen. Wayne Eyre said ‘evil walks this earth'
To: pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, pierre.poilievre <pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca>, jagmeet.singh <jagmeet.singh@parl.gc.ca>, ragingdissident <ragingdissident@protonmail.
Cc: blaine.higgs <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, premier <premier@gov.bc.ca>, premier <premier@gov.ab.ca>, Office of the Premier <scott.moe@gov.sk.ca>, premier <premier@ontario.ca>, premier <premier@gov.yk.ca>, premier <premier@gov.nt.ca>, premier <premier@gov.nl.ca>, premier <premier@gov.pe.ca>, <NIA_IG@navy.mi>, nia_ig.fct <nia_ig.fct@navy.mil>, JUSTMIN <JUSTMIN@novascotia.ca>, <anthony.housefather@parl.gc.
From: Paolo ''PJ'' Andreetti <paolo4monctoneast@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 23, 2024 at 5:59 PM
Subject: Re: In his final words as Canada’s chief of defence staff, Gen. Wayne Eyre said ‘evil walks this earth'
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Join the Movement for an Even Better Moncton East
Support Paolo ‘PJ’ Andreetti in the 2024 New Brunswick provincial elections. Together, we can keep building a stronger than ever community. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please reach out and we will get connected!
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 23, 2024 at 5:49 PM
Subject: Fwd: In his final words as Canada’s chief of defence staff, Gen. Wayne Eyre said ‘evil walks this earth'
To: <paolo4monctoneast@yahoo.com>
Moncton East
(506) 962-4001
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Tue, Jul 23, 2024 at 5:46 PM
Subject: Fwd: In his final words as Canada’s chief of defence staff, Gen. Wayne Eyre said ‘evil walks this earth'
To: <paulo4monctoneast@yahoo.com>, robert.mckee <robert.mckee@gnb.ca>, Jason.Carrier <Jason.Carrier@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>
Saturday 20 July 2024
---------- Original message ---------
Date: Sat, Jul 20, 2024 at 2:15 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: In his final words as Canada’s chief of defence staff, Gen. Wayne Eyre said ‘evil walks this earth'
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to the office of Anita Anand, Member of Parliament for Oakville. Please note that we are operating on an appointment only basis and our priority is to respond to inquiries from residents of Oakville. In scheduling appointments for the constituency office, we ask that you provide your postal code, email address, telephone number, and a concise explanation of your matter.
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The Honourable Anita Anand Member of Parliament for Oakville 301 Robinson Street, L6J 1G7 (t): 905-338-2008 |
With HST promise, Higgs seeks a campaign about choices, not change
PC leader’s tax cut pledge was just one of many options to make life more affordable
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs's promise to lower the provincial portion of the harmonized sales tax is a politically potent move and a callback to a similar Conservative commitment almost two decades ago.
The HST is the most visible of taxes. It's itemized on sales receipts we look at every day — as former prime minister Stephen Harper pointed out in 2005, when he launched his election campaign with a promise to cut the federal portion of the tax.
"This tax cut is one you will see every time you shop," Harper said.
"It is a tax cut you will experience, a tax cut that no politician will be able to take away without you noticing."
That promise helped Harper win the election, putting an end to more than 12 years of Liberal rule in Ottawa.
Higgs is hoping his commitment, made at a campaign-style Progressive Conservative Party event last week, will have the same galvanizing effect provincially.
The opposition Liberals are making "change" the theme of their lead-up to the campaign, hoping voters are fed up with inflation, health-care wait times, overstuffed classrooms and six years of PC administration.
In
this CBC archival photo from 2005, then-candidate for prime minister
Stephen Harper promised to cut the federal portion of the HST. (CBC)
The Tories are countering that by making the October election about a choice.
"This fall, New Brunswickers will have a choice to make, and the choices will be very different," Higgs said at last week's announcement.
"Do you want more money in your bank account? Do you want to make life more affordable?"
Of course, the choice Higgs is offering is the one he is choosing to offer voters. But there are others.
His opponent, Liberal Leader Susan Holt, has promised to take the HST off power bills.
It would save people some money, reducing tax revenue by $90 million compared to the hundreds of millions the HST reduction would cost the government.
Higgs is making choice a theme of his campaign as leader of the Progressive Conservatives. (Alix Villeneuve/Radio-Canada)
Holt says her proposal would leave the government room to spend more on health, education and other priorities.
"We've proposed things that we know we can do while continuing to be fiscally responsible," she said last week.
Last year the federal government took the HST off new rental apartment construction, hoping to boost the housing supply and stabilize the cost of rent.
It urged provincial governments to match the move. Nova Scotia did. New Brunswick did not.
There are other potential provincial tax cuts that might do more to help people who need it the most.
The HST doesn't apply to basic groceries and to rent, so lower-income voters, who buy fewer big-ticket items and pay less HST overall, will save less from the cut.
Single New Brunswickers earning less than $21,343 pay no provincial income tax. The government could raise that threshold, exempting more people and leaving more money in their pockets.
But that wouldn't benefit all New Brunswickers, as an HST cut would.
Another choice the PCs have made is the timing of the reduction.
The government has recorded $2.4 billion in budget surpluses over the last four years.
Higgs told reporters last week that the HST reduction, once fully implemented, will deprive the provincial treasury of $450 million a year.
He said that until recently, his government couldn't be sure the big surpluses that make that reduction affordable — surpluses fuelled by unprecedented population growth — would last.
"We didn't have confidence in where it was going to land," the PC leader told reporters.
Now, he says, the windfall looks secure and predictable enough to reduce the HST.
But that will likely limit the government's ability to spend money to keep up with the very population growth providing the government with more revenue.
Last November's capital budget, for example, included just $10.2 million to start work on four new schools and two expansions of existing schools — far less than what's required to provide classroom space for the thousands of new students enrolling.
"It isn't going to completely meet all of next year's needs, in terms of new space," Education Minister Bill Hogan admitted at the time.
"It's impossible to do it all."
A lower HST rate — and $450 million less in revenue each year — would make it even more difficult.
Higgs said last week that building more new schools will be necessary but, because he won't run deficits, that may make other expenses impossible.
"Some things we can't avoid," he said.
"There will be 'must-do's, and there will be 'nice-to-do's, and it will be very important for us to prioritize going forward how we manage that."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
2018 act requires disclosures within 90 days of an election
Sam Farley · CBC News · Posted: Jul 25, 2024 5:14 PM ADT
Too Too Funny
Duhhh???
C'est Vrai
It’s a feeble effort at best, trying to put a negative spin on the Higgs’ promise to reduce the 2% provincial portion of the HST that free spending Gallant dumped on us in 2016.
It’s actually a great move that everyone will benefit from.
Yes, the middle class (that Trudeau has completely forgotten) will benefit a bit more, but why shouldn’t they?
Here's a thought: Just axe the tax completely. Get rid of the HST.
Don't just nibble away at it. Remove it entirely.
And, while you're at it, also axe the carbon tax.
Without carbon taxes and the HST, New Brunswickers would get at least a bit of relief from the insane cost of living these days.
House and car prices have skyrocketed. Even eating in a formerly-cheap fast-food restaurant is now a luxury. Vacations? Forget them. In addition to the high cost of gas and diesel, everything else has become prohibitively expensive.
When I first moved to New Brunswick a couple of decades ago, gasoline was 65 cents a litre. It's now almost three times as expensive. THREE times!!!
The size of my paycheque hasn't tripled in that time.
Has yours?
David Amos
Reply to James Risdon
Dream on
MR Cain
Reply to James Risdon
I make money with the rebate as do 8 of 10 Canadians, and pollution from vehicles has fallen, so we can keep the price on pollution.
1994 price of a barrel of oil was under $18...
Its about $80 today.
We live under a government, keyword here is Govern. We pay taxes so we can reap the benefits of living in an actual society, this isn't feudalism. Taxes aren't the problem, corporate greed is.
Also, minimum wage was $5 three decades ago, it's $15 today. Triple.
There's no reason why I should pay carbon taxes so the government can subsidize those who make electric vehicles just so you can buy one more cheaply and virtue signal to the rest of us.
Reply to Mario-Pierre Gaudreau
But you do put forth a very valid idea. Taxes do pay for services. And some would have to be cut with less tax revenue.
I put forth a list of things that could be cut but that was vetoed by the powers that be who, apparently, want to keep their taxpayer-funded salaries and are perfectly willing to stifle discourse on a matter of public discourse to make that happen.
Reply to Walter Vrbetic
Reply to Max Ruby
Choice is clear don't vote for Higgs
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to Gary Webber
"Those who sip from the trough will be upset."
GM
David Amos
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
Nay not I
Gordon MacFarlane.
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
😁
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
Gordon MacFarlane
Another poster, thanks MVF, noted we are paying $100,000,000,000.00...Every year just to service public debt.
We all know this fun fact but most don't really seem to understand what it means
To spend one million dollars at a thousand dollars a day...it would take close to three years
To spend one billion dollars, at the same rate of a thousand dollars a day...
It would take close to three thousand years
One hundred billion dollars x three thousand years per billion....
And that is just debt servicing!
Fiscal madness that must be reigned in
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to Gordon MacFarlane
BTW, who can take a guess at what $1.00 in new public debt yields in value?
The answer is just $0.58.
Just 60 years ago it was $3.00, if I remember correctly.
The law of diminishing returns.
Bob Leeson
Reply to Gordon MacFarlane
I took advantage of it and decided to buy some of that debt in order to make extra money.
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to Bob Leeson
I invest in bank stocks and not because I favour fractional reserve banking or the debt based monetary system we find ourselves trapped in.
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to Bob Leeson
I invest in bank stocks and not because I favour fractional reserve banking or the debt based monetary system we find ourselves in.
Bob Leeson
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
I own bank stocks too. But for leveraging Canada's public debt, there are several ETFs backed by government securities to choose from. It was basically a defensive strategy, as I'm starting to get up there in age ;)
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to Bob Leeson
As long as the taxpayer back stops the banks, which, again, I do not believe in, I will continue to invest in them.
Reply to Bob Leeson
We all own Bank Stocks
Reply to David Amos
Indirectly, through other funds like the CPP. However I hold 3 bank stocks directy.
Fun fact, some of that interest the government pays on its debt not only goes to me through the ETFs I own, but also the CPP since they also invest in government debt instruments.
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to Bob Leeson
Fun fact, by running a deficit, public debt, they are paying those service charges. It's like using your credit card to pay the interest on it. What eventually happens?
Bob Leeson
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
If I'm the recipient, I suppose I don't mind. Selfish choice I know, but money is money.
David Amos
Reply to Bob Leeson
Do you know why I came home and ran for Parliament in 2004?
Bob Leeson
Reply to David Amos
Err... to take part as an institutional investor in one of the BoC's bond auctions? I suppose you don't need to run for parliament to do that though.
David Amos
Reply to Bob Leeson
Review of Current Investigations and Regulatory Actions Regarding the
Mutual Fund Industry
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2003 Time: 02:00 PM
Topic
The Committee will meet in OPEN SESSION to conduct the second in a
series of hearings on the “Review of Current Investigations and
Regulatory Actions Regarding the Mutual Fund Industry.”
Witnesses
Witness Panel 1
Mr. Stephen M. Cutler
Director - Division of Enforcement
Securities and Exchange Commission
Cutler - November 20, 2003
Mr. Robert Glauber
Chairman and CEO
National Association of Securities Dealers
Glauber - November 20, 2003
Eliot Spitzer
Attorney General
State of New York
Spitzer - November 20, 2003
Bob Leeson
Reply to David Amos
Well great. I was never a fan of mutual funds. Too many fees.
David Amos
Reply to Bob Leeson
Why did I cause that hearing?
Bob Leeson
Reply to David Amos
No idea. Did you? In any case, I'm unsure of the relevance to profiting off government securities such as bonds, treasuries, GICs, etc.
David Amos
Reply to Bob Leeson
Everybody knows
Kyle Woodman
What tax cut? 1% in 2025 and another 1% in 2026 is the proposal no? If it was really a tax cut why doesn't Higgs just do 2% right now. He can you know. He's trying to quid pro quo himself some votes.
Le Wier
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Higgs is trying to get the small business owners votes.
Ed Franks
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Harpers government worked their way to a majority government by cutting the GST tax.
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Le Wier
I don't understand that. I am a small business owner. HST is a write off on business expenses.
Le Wier
Reply to Kyle Woodman
The story last week said the small business owners were happy with the tax cut, because people could get out and shop more.
Mario-Pierre Gaudreau
Reply to Le Wier
That's 2 dollars on every 100. Will that really motivate people to spend that much more? I don't think so.
Reply to Mario-Pierre Gaudreau
Reply to Le Wier
Small business does not care what their customers pay in taxes. Business only collects and remits the tax money.
Ed Franks
Reply to Le Wier
Makes sense thanks Le Wier
David Amos
Reply to Le Wier
Do you believe everything you read?
Le Wier
Reply to David Amos
No. I don’t. Last week’s story about the cut to provincial sales tax didn’t convince me more people will be going shopping because of it.
Le Wier
Reply to Ed Franks
I agree, but they do care if they have fewer customers.
BTW, a tax cut is a tax cut, period; be it phased in or immediate.
Kyle Woodman
Blaine Higgs is a flim flam artist.
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Why?
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
Because he treats the electorate like rubes.
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Examples?
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to Kyle Woodman
So, you're just making the whole thing up. Why would you do that?
David Amos
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
Ask the pensioners and the Crown lawyers why they sued Higgy
Kyle Woodman
Reply to David Amos
Thanks David.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Never forget why I sued 3 US Treasury Agents in 2002
Kyle Woodman
Reply to David Amos
I never forget anything you do.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Thanks back at ya
MR Cain
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
Saving a thousand dollars with a 2% cut over 2 years in HST. If you believe that...
Mike Van Fleet
Who can take a guess at what $1.00 in new public debt yields?
BTW, I just found this out last night.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
Better yet Why do you think I sued 3 US Treasury Agents in 2002?
Gordon MacFarlane
Those who sip from the trough will be upset.
Those who pay for the trough will be pleased
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to Gordon MacFarlane
I'm going to use that one.
Classic!
Gordon MacFarlane
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
Please do.
Cheers Mike
John Montgomery
Reply to Gordon MacFarlane
Which of those people are fixing healthcare?
Matt Steele
Reply to Gordon MacFarlane
Truer words have never been spoken , and 100 percent correct .
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to John Montgomery
Healthcare, in its current form, may not be fixable.
John Montgomery
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
Maybe not, but it would be nice if someone tried.
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to John Montgomery
I could fix it in ten years.
Pass balance budget laws
No more public debt is allowed
Revamped tax code of one page
Most important, end this private sector bureaucracy that is devouring the private sector.
John Montgomery
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
As long as I don't lose services that I use in the name of perusing your policy, I think that's a great idea.
Gordon MacFarlane
Reply to Matt Steele
Thanks Matt, I appreciate it
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to John Montgomery
We'll all have to suffer for a few years. It's happening right now but for the opposite reasons called over $100 billion/year to service the federal and provincial public debt.
John Montgomery
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
I'm fine with that too, as long as people suffer proportionate to their wealth.
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to John Montgomery
So, you are suggesting the gov confiscate the wealth of those richer than you?
John Montgomery
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
I'm suggesting everyone pay as they are able. I have a summer residence that is coming to me in my inheritance and I will need to pay more tax on it now, but I don't mind because I know people with smaller residences are paying less and people with bigger residences are paying more. That's the way it should be.
David Amos
Reply to Gordon MacFarlane
Surely you jest
David Amos
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
Will we see your name on a ballot this year?
Mike Van Fleet
Reply to David Amos
Nope, I'm retired. But, any politician could and should take this advice. It cuts to the root of a lot of problems.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Mike Van Fleet
BTW I asked you a far more important question and somebody flagged it
What a shame.
$600,000,000 a year.
Amen
- He got dental for poor kids
- He increased health payments to the provinces
- He made daycare more affordable
- Canada had the second lowest inflation in the G7 behind Japan. So if Trudeau had anything to do with inflation at all, then he protected us from the worst of it.
I know there are more but I can't think of them right now.
I suppose there was nothing but praise here for free spending Gallant when he hiked the GST by 2% in 2016
Political parties must now disclose costs of N.B. election promises
2018 act requires disclosures within 90 days of an election
As New Brunswick's fall election inches closer, political parties have now passed the 90-days-before-the-vote threshold.
And that means stricter disclosure rules are now in place.
From now until the election, scheduled for Oct. 21, political parties must file a disclosure statement with Elections N.B. indicating the estimated cost for every campaign commitment made.
"The intent was, of course, to provide transparency to the electors, to voters of what the costs of commitments being made during an election campaign would mean to them at the end of the day as taxpayers," said Paul Harpelle, director of communications with Elections N.B. in an interview with CBC's Shift radio program.
Harpelle said there are three options parties can choose to provide on the disclosure forms: a cost estimate, a maximum cost estimate, or they can check a box that says no estimate has been provided.
"We ourselves have no control in validating whether or not the costing that they provide is sound," Harpelle said, but added that rival political parties can provide accountability by checking the numbers themselves.
Harpelle said the goal is to "make sure that they've actually filed and that they've checked all the correct boxes in these different disclosure statements."
Paul Harpelle, spokesperson for Elections N.B., said the agency doesn't
validate the estimated costs as true. (Submitted by Paul Harpelle)
All of these cost disclosures will be available publicly on the Elections N.B. website, under the "Political Financing" tab. As of Thursday, none of the six registered parties in New Brunswick have provided any disclosures.
When asked if Blaine Higgs's recent promise to reduce the HST if elected would need to be outlined in a cost estimate disclosure, Harpelle said not technically, since it was made on July 18, just days outside the 90-day window.
But if the party states the promise again within the 90-day window, this "will have to be followed by a disclosure statement," Harpelle said.
On Thursday, now within 90 days of the election, a post on X, formerly Twitter, by the Progressive Conservative Party promised the same commitment again.
"In this election, there is only one Party who will cut the HST. The choice couldn't be more clear to make life more affordable," the post states.
Included in the post is a photo of Blaine Higgs as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party under the words "will cut HST" next to side-by-side photos of Liberal Leader Susan Holt and Green Leader David Coon under the words "won't cut HST."
Financial estimates for political promises are due by Sept 19, the day the writs of election are issued, Harpelle said.
Most commitments made between Sept. 19 and election day require a disclosure to be filed to Elections N.B. on the same day they are made, he said.
Last
week, Premier Blaine Higgs, as leader of the Progressive Conservatives,
announced he would reduce the provincial portion of HST if elected
again. This promise does not require a cost estimate because it was just
outside the 90-day time period. (Alix Villeneuve/Radio-Canada)
There's an exception for commitments made by a party leader, which have a three-day window for estimates to be filed. This is to account for commitments made during a debate or leader's speech, Harpelle said.
Once the forms are filed, the supervisor of political financing has two days to examine the forms to make sure they are correct. If there are any errors or omissions, the chief electoral officer will reach out to the party to ask for a fix.
"If there are issues where they do not comply, then there are some consequences," Harpelle said.
A party could be prohibited from advertising for the rest of the election or be issued an administrative penalty, he said.
Harpelle said Elections N.B. held a training session for party officials earlier this year to go over the Transparency in Elections Commitment Act, which was proclaimed in 2018 and includes the financial disclosure requirement.
This would only be the second New Brunswick election to fall under the disclosure requirement, since the 2020 election was called early. Unscheduled elections like that do not require financial disclosures to be filed for commitments.
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Expensive promises for N.B.'s October election are piling up. But will they be honoured?
Long history of parties sidestepping commitments after winning won't happen this year, they insist.
A history in New Brunswick of expensive campaign promises not being honoured once an election is finished will not be repeated this year, provincial political parties are insisting.
Heidi Cyr, a senior communications adviser and press secretary to Blaine Higgs, said voters can count on the premier to honour a $450-million commitment he made last month to lower the provincial sales tax rate by two percentage points over two years if he is re-elected in October.
"New Brunswickers can trust that thanks to strong fiscal management, including paying down our debt, we are now able to phase-in a 2% cut to the HST," said Cyr in an email about the promise.
"New Brunswickers will be able to see this tax cut roll out on a clear schedule."
It is a firm commitment from Progressive Conservatives, but New Brunswick political parties have a long history of sidestepping expensive and what appeared to be equally firm commitments made to voters during previous elections.
Higgs himself entered public life in 2010 and one of his first tasks after being appointed finance minister by then premier David Alward was to wriggle out of a pricey election property tax promise Alward had made to seniors weeks earlier.
Progressive
Conservatives promised in the 2018 election to 'eliminate' provincial
property taxes on apartment buildings once government finances improved.
They didn't. The Fort Howe apartment building in Saint John was among
hundreds issued provincial property tax bills this year. It was charged
$63,000, about $412 per apartment. (Robert Jones/CBC)
Higgs said the promise, which involved permanently freezing the assessed value of houses belonging to anyone over the age of 65 for as long as they owned and lived in their home, was a poor idea and too expensive.
Instead, Higgs concocted a much cheaper scheme where seniors could defer paying tax increases until they died or moved.
Legislation was passed to allow the province to place liens on participating seniors' homes so it could collect unpaid taxes, plus interest, later.
The substitute plan was not well received, and only a fraction of eligible seniors have ever signed on to it.
"The property tax commitment in the platform, I realize that what we did, did not meet the expectations of what people thought they were going to get," Higgs explained at a public meeting in 2011 about why the promise was not honoured as written.
"In 10 years time, it would have cost the province $173 million."
During his own period as party leader, Higgs has also made the decision to walk away from expensive campaign promises.
In the 2018 election under Higgs, PCs made a commitment to "eliminate" provincial property taxes on apartment buildings as government finances improved.
Blaine
Higgs entered public life in 2010. As former premier David Alward's
minister of finance, one of his first moves was to kill a pricey tax
promise Alward made to seniors in the 2010 election. (CBC)
The party promoted the idea as a benefit to tenants and although government finances did improve dramatically, provincial property taxes on apartment buildings remain.
This year, the provincial government is still collecting, in most cases, between $350 and $600 in property tax per apartment unit in New Brunswick for itself on top of what local governments charge.
On some buildings that represents no tax reduction at all.
A request to interview a government representative about what happened to the property tax promise was not granted, but in her email, Cyr blamed the failure on the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to "re-prioritize the use of all fiscal resources."
New Brunswick did cut tax rates on apartment buildings by half in 2023 but rapidly rising property assessment valuations on the same properties at the same time offset much of those changes.
Despite the size of the commitment to eliminate all provincial property taxes on apartment buildings, which PCs estimated to be worth $90 million in 2018, Higgs has rarely mentioned it.
In July in Moncton as he announced his new promise to cut the HST, Higgs appeared to suggest he had not made any unfunded election commitments in 2018, let alone ones he didn't keep.
"Consistently we have seen governments announce tax cuts or announce spending programs before they could actually afford them," said Higgs.
"I didn't do that in 2018."
In an interview, New Brunswick Liberal Leader Susan Holt said that history will "absolutely" undermine Higgs's credibility with voters on whether he can be trusted to honour a significant promise this year like cutting the HST.
Former
New Brunswick premier Shawn Graham narrowly won New Brunswick's 2006
provincial election. However, a promise he made to voters to rebate HST
amounts on heating costs to help secure that win was broken almost
immediately. (CBC)
"They remember well that this premier promised to eliminate those taxes on rentals, the double tax, and then did not deliver on that promise," said Holt.
"So there's a lot of skepticism that the premier's HST promise is for election purposes and that they won't follow through on the whole thing."
Liberals are proposing their own sales tax cut this year. They have a $100-million plan to drop the provincial portion of the HST on residential electricity prices but have their own history of not honouring all election commitments.
In the 2006 election, Liberals made a similar promise to the public to rebate the HST on home heating costs, but after winning the election quickly reneged.
New
Brunswick Liberal Leader Susan Holt is promising there will be no
post-election backpedaling on commitments by her party this year if it
wins office in October. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
"We will not be moving forward with the previously announced rebate," said new Liberal finance minister, Victor Boudreau, in December 2006, just two months after his party took office.
Like Progressive Conservatives, Holt says whatever has happened in the past there will be no flip-flopping on election promises after the election this year.
"If we put something in a platform and we promise to New Brunswickers that we will do it, then we have to do it," said Holt.
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