N.B. party leaders square off in CBC election debate this evening
Blaine Higgs, Susan Holt and David Coon take part in debate to be shown at 6 p.m.
Hoping to get some answers on where the leaders stand as New Brunswick heads toward an election?
On Wednesday, the three major party leaders are sharing a platform for New Brunswick Votes 2024: Leaders on the Record.
The debate is being shown at 6 p.m. on cbc.ca/nb and on the CBC evening news.
TV host Clare MacKenzie and political reporter Jacques Poitras will be moderators.
Voters will get to hear from Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs, Liberal Leader Susan Holt and Green Leader David Coon.
All of CBC New Brunswick's election coverage can be found on this website under the New Brunswick Votes 2024 page.
Green
Party Leader David Coon, Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs
and Liberal Leader Susan Holt will face one another in the New Brunswick
Votes 2024: Leaders on the Record debate Wednesday evening. (CBC)
When Higgs went to Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy on Sept. 20 to have the legislature dissolved, the election campaign officially began. New Brunswickers will vote on Oct. 21.
However, talk of an election was in the air long before it officially got underway.
In June 2023, several members of Higgs's cabinet spoke out over his changes to Policy 713, a gender identity policy in schools. The question of an early election existed then and intensified that fall as Higgs hinted at an election for six weeks.
But as it became clear Higgs would stick to the scheduled election, the PC Party delivered a major campaign announcement in July, promising to cut the HST from 15 per cent to 13 per cent if re-elected.
The PCs have only made one other promise as the official campaign nears the one-week mark, and that is to expand the scope of practice of nurse practitioners, registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, paramedics and pharmacists.
What have leaders promised?
The Green and Liberal parties have made announcements nearly every day of the official campaign so far.
Liberal Leader Susan Holt has promised retention bonuses for nurses, a three per cent rent cap, and that 30,000 new housing units will be built by 2030 by temporarily removing the sales tax on new residential builds.
The Green Party has promised $380 million annually for health care, a guaranteed-livable wage for seniors, to restore rural services like a year-round Campobello Ferry and courthouses in Charlotte County and the Acadian Peninsula, and to protect local heritage sites like the Memramcook Institute.
Party leaders also spoke to a group of mayors and municipal officials about how they would address shortfalls in local funding following municipal reform last year. Indigenous leaders and teachers have also asked political parties for their responses to key issues.
Polls suggest it will be a close race.
The province has also shaken up its electoral map and added a sizable number of people to its population since the previous election in 2020.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am stocked up with peanuts and popcorn
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Deja Vu Anyone?
N.B. party leaders clash over bilingualism at second televised debate
By Kevin Bissett The Canadian Press
Posted September 15, 2018 10:10 am
Higgs, Liberal Premier Brian Gallant and the other party leaders squared off on a community centre stage in Fredericton in a 90-minute debate carried on Rogers TV.
Gerald Bourque, the folksy, cowboy-hatted leader of the KISS party – or Keep It Simple Solutions – said with modern translation it’s not necessary for the premier to speak both English and French.
He joked that if you want a bilingual premier, you should vote for Gallant.
“He’s putting this province into debt in both official languages,” Bourque quipped, drawing laughter from the audience of staff and supporters for all the parties.
Gallant later acknowledged the joke was “pretty funny,” but stressed it’s important for the premier and cabinet ministers to demonstrate to both communities that they take their language seriously.
Reply to Hugh MacDonald
Reply to Hugh MacDonald
Reply to Jos Allaire
Reply to Jos Allaire
William Murdoch
Reply to Don Corey
Reply to William Murdoch
Regardless of policies, candidates or track record, I will always vote for the Conservative candidate.
Lynette Browne
Reply to Jim Redmond
You know, Bill.
Jim Redmond
Reply to Lynette Browne
Please elaborate.
Lynette Browne
Reply to Jim Redmond
You know who you vote for no matter what.
End.
Jim Redmond
Reply to Lynette Browne
Yes, I will always support the Progressive Conservatives.
Ron parker
Reply to Jim Redmond
well lets bake you a cake with blue sprinkles.
Jim Redmond
Reply to Ron parker
Sounds good to me. Thanks.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Jim Redmond
Say hey to Higgy for me will ya?
Ted DiBlase
Reply to Jim Redmond
You sound like the pm`s followers.
Tom Campbell
Reply to Jim Redmond
colour blind?
Reply to Ron parker
Reply to David Amos
Reply to Bryan Jones
Reply to Matt Steele
And claimed it would save NBers $1,000 a year... since average income is 46,800... how is that possible?
Bad plan. Let's hope it never happens.
Just address the root cause which is an explosion in population in the last two years.
But disagree the root cause is the "explosion in population". Immigration is an easy target, but a very small part of the problem. Govts stopped building social housing, the feds back in the early 90's, handing off the policy to the provinces who didn't follow through (except P.Q.). Then, for decades, money was essentially free, interest minimal, and everyone was buying houses as homes and investments, and retirement funds.
Meanwhile, provinces and employers are asking for new people, especially lower-wage workers, but also in construction and HC.
Reply to Walter Vrbetic
Seeing Higgs smile looks forced.
Ronald Miller
Reply to William Peters
Maybe it will be a debate question of JP's.
James Risdon
Reply to William Peters
A bad photograph is an excellent way for you to make up your mind on which candidate will do the best job of governing the province.
Lou Bell
Reply to James Risdon
Yeah , but really , what more would you expect ? After all , look at what the Liberals ran in the 2 previous elections . Certainly wasn't their qualifications !
James Risdon
Reply to Lou Bell
I keep expecting - and getting disappointed when they don't - that people will actually use their brains and think about the issues in a logical and rationale manner and vote accordingly.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to James Risdon
I bet you two would like to forget this election EH?
Liberals hang on to most of north, but lose a minister
Liberal cabinet minister Wilfred Roussel defeated in Shippagan-Lameque-Miscou
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Sep 25, 2018 1:37 AM ADT
Bathurst West-Beresford
Liberal incumbent and Education Minister Brian Kenny won with 4,351 votes.
PC Yvon Landry had 1,082 votes, while Mike Rau for the Green Party had 503, NDP candidate Anne-Renée Thomas had 443 and KISS candidate James Risdon had 64.
There were 6,443 ballots cast in the riding with 10,878 eligible voters.
valmond landry
Reply to James Risdon
The expert has spoken
David Amos
Reply to valmond landry
2018
Bathurst West-Beresford
Liberal incumbent and Education Minister Brian Kenny won with 4,351 votes.
PC Yvon Landry had 1,082 votes, while Mike Rau for the Green Party had 503, NDP candidate Anne-Renée Thomas had 443 and KISS candidate James Risdon had 64.
Reply to David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
Shifting deck chairs on the Titanic. This election is about seeing who will try the hardest to buy votes using the taxpayer's own money.
It ain't broke, folks. Don't try to fix it.
New Brunswick's finances are in great shape with a half a billion dollar surplus this year which will go at least in part to pay down the debt and lower our future interest costs. That's important because it will then free up more money for things like education and healthcare.
People are coming here from all over Canada and the rest of the world now because they want the quality of life we have here.
Stay the course. Don't mess this up by voting for someone who promises you the moon and then sticks you with the bill.
Alison Jackson
Reply to James Risdon
Like Higgs you mean.
William Peters
Reply to James Risdon
Well, it is severely broken so I suggest you give it a listen if you like theater. We' ll get sense of the problems in NB if we can get questions that aren't about bottom lines.
MR Cain
Reply to James Risdon
So all the concerns about our health care, housing, bread lines, pollution, inflation, tent cities, drugs, crime, is just a figment of our collective imagination?
James Risdon
Reply to Alison Jackson
So, you like Premier Blaine Higgs? I'll be sure to pass on the compliment the next time I see him.
James Risdon
Reply to MR Cain
What exactly is your concern?
James Risdon
Reply to William Peters
I'll pass. The nonsense that passes for debate among political leaders makes me sick.
David Amos
Reply to James Risdon
Remember your party leader's last statement when he debated them in 2018?
Higgs on the defensive during debate, accuses Liberal leader of making things up
Blaine Higgs, Susan Holt and David Coon cover range of issues in 45-minute exchange
Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs, taking the stage in an election debate Wednesday, defended his management of health-care problems in New Brunswick, while two other party leaders promised to do a better job.
With just over three weeks to go until the Oct. 21 election, Higgs, Liberal Leader Susan Holt and Green Leader David Coon faced off in Moncton over a range of subjects, including health care, housing, education, Indigenous title claims, and the gender identity policy for schools.
Throughout the debate, Higgs was on the defensive and during the health-care discussion, accused Holt of lying about the number of New Brunswickers waiting for a family doctor.
New Brunswick Votes 2024: Leaders on the Record was moderated by CBC New Brunswick host Clare MacKenzie and provincial affairs reporter Jacques Poitras.
Higgs accuses Holt of 'falsehood'
On health care, Higgs pointed to his promise to expand the scope of practice for nurse practitioners, nurses and other health-care professionals, and said he wants the province's two health authorities to collaborate more.
Higgs called out Holt several times for what he called inaccurate numbers, mainly after Holt said there are 180,000 people in the province without access to a doctor, which he called an "absolute falsehood."
Numbers shared by the PC Party say that the number of people registered on New Brunswick Health Link, without access to a doctor, was 38,446. An additional 62,940 New Brunswickers are registered who don't have a doctor but receive primary care services through existing clinics.
However, a Liberal Party spokesperson said the 180,000 number comes from a study by the New Brunswick Health Council from June, which found that only 79 per cent of New Brunswickers had access to a primary care physician in 2023.
Statistics Canada estimated that 834,691 people lived in New Brunswick in 2023, and 21 percent of that, which according to the Health Council study does not have access to a primary care physician, would be 175,285 people.
Higgs also said his government tabled the largest health-care budget in the province's history.
Safe-injection sites
On the issue of safe-injection sites for people using drugs, Holt did not answer when asked if she would fund any more safe-injection sites.
She said that she is not aware of any new applications for them and that the province needs more treatment beds for people with addictions.
Higgs said there will be no more safe-injection sites if his government is re-elected. Instead, he pushed the proposed Compassionate Intervention Act, which would have allowed the government to force some people into treatment.
"I don't know how much longer we can continue just to walk on by individuals that need our help, that are crying for help in many cases and think it's okay to keep them on drugs and have that be in existence," Higgs said.
The act was shelved by the PC government in May.
Higgs also cited British Columbia Premier David Eby, who he said "basically reversed" his stance on safe-injection sites and adopted an involuntary treatment method. British Columbia does allow involuntary treatment, but Eby reversed his government's decriminalization of drugs, not safe injection sites.
Holt also said Higgs shouldn't talk about forcing people into addictions treatment when treatment beds are already in short supply.
Responding to Higgs, Holt acknowledged he wants to "help people help themselves" but said he hasn't taken any action, including creating new rehab beds, to make this possible.
Coon said he would never prohibit safe-injection sites, but they are only part of a larger picture solution to issues around addiction.
"Safe-injection sites ensure that someone's mom, someone's dad, someone's daughter, someone's brother doesn't die," he said.
Coon also reiterated his promise to spend $380 million annually on health care for four years.
Higgs defends record on building schools
On education, Holt said the Higgs government has been too slow building new schools, and Coon echoed her sentiments, saying there's been a lack of planning as the population has grown.
"Once it was clear that our population was going to start growing, we needed to hit the ground running and ensure that the infrastructure, the services that we needed to serve everyone that was coming," Coon said.
Higgs hit back and said he's proud of the province's growth, adding that schools were closing six years ago because of a population decline.
"The pain of progress is real," Higgs said. "And to suggest that we should have had schools just waiting is not real, and to suggest we can build them overnight is not real.
Higgs said about 10,000 new students enrolled in the school system this year and that the province currently has plans to build 10 new schools.
"So yes, we have challenges in housing, we have challenges in school construction and it's based on a province that's growing."
Liberals, Greens stick to housing promises
On housing, Coon reiterated his promise to change the mandate of N.B. Housing to be able to tie property tax rates to how affordable landlords set their rents.
"So a low rent would pay low taxes. Apartments with high rent, the owners would pay higher taxes," he said.
Holt again mentioned her pledge to remove provincial taxes from multi-unit buildings to spur new development.
Coon said there should be a rent cap, a promise that was also made by Holt, who said rents should be capped three per cent.
Higgs said his government would be for "rent control, rent changes, affordable subsidized housing." However, rent control only existed briefly in New Brunswick, during the pandemic in 2022, and was then allowed to expire by his government.
Higgs defends promise to cut HST
When asked how his promise to cut the HST to 13 per cent could be achieved without cutting services, Higgs circled back to his promise of better utilizing the entire health-care system by expanding the scope of practice of health-care professionals. He also took a jab at opposition party plans to spend more on health.
"To think we're going to spend infinite money on health care and it's going to all of a sudden get better, it's not realistic," he said.
Holt responded by saying Higgs's proposed HST cut is the most expensive campaign promise made so far, more than all of the Liberal promises combined.
The estimated cost of the HST cut would be $450 million. The total amount needed for promises made so far by the Liberals is about $90 million.
"We can't afford that. New Brunswickers can't afford it, and the health-care system can't afford it," Coon said of the HST cut.
"When we project tax cuts, we believe that actually people can spend money better than government," Higgs said of his plan.
Holt followed up by claiming this comment meant Higgs was suggesting the health-care system is moving toward privatization, to which he said there was "no foundation for that whatsoever."
Coon, Holt promise to negotiate, not litigate with First Nations
On the Indigenous title claims filed in court against the province by both the Wolastoqey and Mi'gmaq, Coon said he would negotiate instead of litigate and spoke of the importance of respecting treaties.
Holt also said she would negotiate instead of going to the courts.
Higgs defended his government and said title claims are different from simple treaty rights.
"So there's a big distinction between reserve land that was taken away and then a lawsuit that's affecting the entire province," Higgs said, adding that he would ensure "private citizens' rights are respected."
Lawyers for the Wolatoqey Nation have repeatedly said the title claim is not going after small landowners, a claim Higgs has made repeatedly.
Holt said the Higgs government has disrespected Indigenous partners, citing the decision to end the tax-sharing agreement.
Higgs refuses to condemn flyers
When asked about recent flyers that have gone to homes in New Brunswick accusing schools of "pushing transgenderism", Higgs refused to say that they were misleading, instead saying they were not associated with him but do constitute freedom of speech.
"I find it really shocking that the discussion around parents and their involvement with their minor age children is such a debate," Higgs said.
"Clearly these flyers are vilifying teachers, just as Mr. Higgs has done. Teachers have never felt so disrespected in this province," Coon said in response.
Holt said it was disappointing that Higgs wouldn't condemn the flyers and pointed to previous examples of what she called disrespect toward teachers from Higgs.
She also took aim at the fact that a dozen PCs are not running again.
"We've watched his team abandon him, for the 12 MLAs quit the PC team because they didn't appreciate his leadership. That showed that he couldn't learn," Holt said.
Closing remarks
In their closing remarks, Coon pointed to what he called the failure of past Liberal and Conservative governments.
"We need new leadership, a Green government would be different," Coon said.
Higgs said voters had a choice to "keep building a strong province or choose policies that will put us back into the red."
"It's not about whether you personally like me or not, it's about our future and that of the next generation."
Holt pointed to what she called "a health-care system worse than ever."
"It's never been more clear that New Brunswickers are ready for change," she said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Comment by David Amos.
46 min ago
I was told how comical it is getting nomination signatures in Higgy's riding
Comment by Jay Miller.
1 hr ago
Higgs was so nervous all night - so many lies, and failed to condemn the pamphlet accusing teachers to tell their kids to lie to their parents … these were the same comment which Higgs made when he was preaching the Pro Policy 713 reasons for the introduction of this Policy where 12 PC members resigned from the party for the “it’s my way or the highway attitude” of Higgs! Time to vote him out!
Comment by David Sampson.
1 hr ago
The problem with Higgs matches the problem with the conservative movement in Canada lately. Once considered a viable moderate centre right political movement they have moved dramatically to the fringes of the political spectrum embracing the prairie reform, fundamentalist ideology that fits quite nicely into the political arena of the west but was never fully embraced on a national scale. Higgs became a spokesperson for the British Empire Loyalists bias, and he embraced the religious political ambitions that represents and divided his own caucus who were more progressive, more moderate.
Higgs time has come to an end and in retrospect its certainly not a moment too soon!
Reply by William Conway.
1 hr ago
If good people stand around and do nothing, the they are just as culpable.
Reply by David Sampson.
1 hr ago
Many conservative members of Higgs caucus have either resigned or have refused to seek re-election as long as Higgs remains the leader. Enough said!
Reply by Don Corey.
1 hr ago
The British Empire Loyalists are my ancestors. Interesting that the libs have now stooped to attacking such proud, honest and hardworking folks who played a key and honourable role in the settlement of NB.
Reply by Luc Newsome.
1 hr ago
There is no problem with the “ movement “ except popularity
Reply by Don Corey.
1 hr ago
The feds are well known for doing nothing, but then again, they hardly meet the "good" qualifier.
Reply by William Conway.
1 hr ago
Sounds like those in NB get the government they deserve.
Reply by David Amos.
44 min ago
One of my forefathers was Daniel Keith and he was a Kings Ranger
Hidden comment.
The avatar of ""
content deactivated
Reply by William Conway.
1 hr ago
That the sort of thing you are into?
Reply by Dave Howe.
1 hr ago
Protect the King at all cost, you must be one o the guards.
Reply by William Conway.
1 hr ago
Must be, eh?
Reply by Dave Howe.
1 hr ago
I know so by you actions Little Caesars.
Hidden comment.
The avatar of ""
content deactivated
Reply by Ron parker.
1 hr ago
they all have done that, yes even your team.
Comment by Umberto Pazzo.
1 hr ago
Politicians live in an alternate reality.
Comment by Ross Howe.
1 hr ago
Canada is in a real turmoil.... Politics at all levels is a huge mess and it seems that honest, caring and hard working individuals are gone and we are left with .... well... chaos and confusion.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
When has there ever been an honest politician?
Reply by David Amos.
41 min ago
Ever heard of R.B. Bennett???
Comment by John Collins.
1 hr ago
Libbies in general do like to fabricate things
Comment by Don Corey.
1 hr ago
Interesting (but not surprising) about Holt "stretching" the numbers on NBer's without access to primary care. One has to wonder how much of what she says and promises is actually the truth.
Reply by Ron parker.
1 hr ago
could be said about all of them.
Reply by Don Corey.
1 hr ago
True, no disagreement on your very valid comment.
Reply by Anne Wallenberg.
1 hr ago
Not really - Holt's numbers hold. From the article:
However, a Liberal Party spokesperson said the 180,000 number comes from a study by the New Brunswick Health Council from June, which found that only 79 per cent of New Brunswickers had access to a primary care physician in 2023.
Statistics Canada estimated that 834,691 people lived in New Brunswick in 2023, and 21 percent of that, which according to the Health Council study does not have access to a primary care physician, would be 175,285 people.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
It is enough to say "obviously too many"
Reply by John Montgomery.
39 min ago
But not everyone without a physician is looking for one.
Reply by David Amos.
36 min ago
She never cared that I did not have a Health Care Card as I ran in seven elections
Comment by Dan Lee.
2 hrs ago
Higgs can only defend ....he cant bragg what he has done because its........nothing
Reply by Don Corey.
1 hr ago
Holt has absolutely nothing to say about any accomplishments while she was the key advisor to Brian Gallant; not hard to understand why.
Reply by David Amos.
32 min ago
IMHO her only accomplishment thus far is getting elected in a secure redcoat riding after she lost to the green boss in 2018
Hidden comment.
The avatar of ""
content deactivated
Reply by Michael Kidder.
2 hrs ago
What spin? They have reported when and where the debate will happen and what the party leaders have said.
Reply by Don Corey.
2 hrs ago
That's the norm here.
Reply by Ron parker.
1 hr ago
You must like it Don as you are here almost daily.
Reply by Don Corey.
1 hr ago
I do enjoy the comedy in the comments.
Reply by Ron parker.
1 hr ago
yes, lots by times, have a good evening.
Reply by Don Corey.
48 min ago
Same to you Ron.
Reply by David Amos.
30 min ago
content deactivated –
Welcome back to the circus
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
I haven't a television. Is anybody watching? How about o brief run down?
Reply by Ron parker.
2 hrs ago
ended in jello wrestling match.
Reply by David Amos.
29 min ago
I watched it on my laptop
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Every election I try to look for humour - if I can.
Carrs backing Horsman.
Reply by David Amos.
29 min ago
That is funny
Comment by Jake Newman.
2 hrs ago
as mentioned from another poster---
the Liberals slogan--Max the Tax.
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Holt - start on the road to Max The Tax.
Higgs - continue to pay down the deficit.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
Do nothing but pay down the deficit and watch the province crumble
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
There it is - the unfounded crumbling.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
30% without a doctor. Highest nurse departure rate in canada. Crumbling.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Healthcare is in shambles most of the world. Health Care workers have perfected their:
Woe is me.
Except when they are performing their Line Dancing - Happy Happy Happy
Reply by David Amos.
24 min ago
Surprise Surprise Surprise
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Four more years of responsible governance. If only there would have been a legitimate opposition.
Reply by David Amos.
26 min ago
If is a big word
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
The Radical Left will surely go down in flames. Does that one sitting member have enough time in for the pension?
Reply by Michael Kidder.
2 hrs ago
You should get out more. In many places in the world there are actual radicals. All the Canadian parties are pretty much centrist on most issues.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
I tried to get out. I even whacked the ceiling with the broom handle. Mum still says: NO - stay in my basement.
Reply by Michael Kidder.
2 hrs ago
I believe you; and she may be right.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Mum is always right.
Reply by David Amos.
22 min ago
How else could she keep you in a basement for 80 years?
Comment by Kenneth Dwight.
2 hrs ago
The amount of people I know who don't have a doctor right now in this province is staggering. It's easily more than 20% of the population.
Reply by Don Corey.
2 hrs ago
Yeah, that's pretty consistent with the national average as we struggle through this healthcare crisis. More than 6 million adult Canadians have no access to primary care, as the federal government remains asleep at the wheel.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Is there anything that The PM hasn't broken?
Reply by Don Corey.
51 min ago
Nope.
Reply by David Amos.
15 min ago
His Papa's Mercedes is still in good shape
Reply by David Amos.
13 min ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-gregoire-separation-marriage-1.6925601
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-gregoire-separation-marriage-1.6925601
Comment by Jake Newman.
3 hrs ago
All Holt will do is follow her federal liberal cousins and bring in more taxes and increase the debt.
Reply by Kenneth Dwight.
3 hrs ago
"taxes" ...you mean like the 35% increase in property taxes Higgs forced upon all of us just this year alone (except Irving of course)? That kind of "taxes"?
Reply by William Murdoch.
3 hrs ago
There was no 35% across the board hike in property taxes in NB.
Reply by Jake Newman.
2 hrs ago
can you provide link or documents for such.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
I think that you might find it in Chapter Three - His book of conjecture.
Reply by Don Corey.
2 hrs ago
Your 35% is a false number.
Reply by Don Corey.
2 hrs ago
There is none, except in libbie propaganda.
Reply by Don Corey.
2 hrs ago
Absolutely. Remember that she was a key advisor to Gallant. And who can forget (except a few provincial libs) the visit from Trudeau and his buddy Dom, telling him (Gallant) about the great job and "keep on spending". And of course we all know about the taxes he increased, including the 2% PST that Higgs will finally scrap.
Comment by William Murdoch.
3 hrs ago
It is time for every NBer to get with it (according me) and vote towards a coalition of the three parties.
Max The Tax
is what should happen
Comment by William Murdoch.
3 hrs ago
I think that the most important thing that affects us all is Climate Change Global Warming. That should be the headliner in today's debate.
We have to do something. Oh wait a minute, there is not now and never ever will be a Global We.
INCREASE THE TAX - here.
Reply by Gordon MacFarlane.
3 hrs ago
No thanks
Reply by William Murdoch.
3 hrs ago
What if I coined this phrase:
Max The Tax
Catchy eh.
Reply by Gordon MacFarlane.
3 hrs ago
Go for it, let us know how it goes
Reply by Ted DiBlase.
3 hrs ago
I guess when you don`t pay any you don`t care Bill.
Reply by William Murdoch.
3 hrs ago
Who is Bill?
Comment by Jake Newman.
3 hrs ago
if Holt care about NB she would have come out strongly against PM JT and things like his carbon tax.
Reply by John Montgomery.
3 hrs ago
NB shouldn't care about the environment?
Reply by Jake Newman.
3 hrs ago
if Canada as a country completely down, the effect on stopping "climate change" would be extremely minimal. How much more can a city, town, province or country be expected to do more than what has been done here. the Carbon tax is a TAX and has done nothing but increase the cost of living.
Reply by Michael Kidder.
3 hrs ago
Well that's a little startling; something called a tax is a tax. Thank you for the clarification.
Reply by Marcel Belanger.
3 hrs ago
So you are returning your carbon rebate checks from the government?
Reply by William Murdoch.
3 hrs ago
Something handed back is a bonus to you?
Reply by MR Cain.
3 hrs ago
There is no carbon tax. The rebate you received is from paying the price on pollution.
Reply by William Murdoch.
3 hrs ago
No Carbon Tax. Cool.
Reply by Jake Newman.
3 hrs ago
well the liberals/ndp say it's not actually a tax, though it's called that and is one.
Reply by Kenneth Dwight.
3 hrs ago
His carbon tax is a whole 14cents a liter. Oooooo, going broke are ya? Maybe you should downsize your F-150 into something that gets more than 5MPG?
Reply by John Montgomery.
3 hrs ago
Canada has signed obligations to other countries.
Reply by Kenneth Dwight.
2 hrs ago
"if Canada as a country completely down, the effect on stopping "climate change" would be extremely minimal. "
In other words what you are saying is "leading by example is a poor strategy we must just keep doing what we are doing because I don't care what happens to anyone else other than myself" - Is that what it is for you?
Reply by Jake Newman.
2 hrs ago
haven't we done enough? Others need to step up.
Reply by Jake Newman.
2 hrs ago
which means what? many countries ignore.
Reply by Jake Newman.
2 hrs ago
it has a domino effect.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Why so much anger from you? Could it because most of the world is moving on and moving away from the Climate Activist Message - and you know it.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Where was that, that you claim Canada has signed obligations to other countries
Reply by Don Corey.
2 hrs ago
It's a carbon tax, plain and simple. And how many times have the feds renamed the small rebate?
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
If we don't do it, why would any of them?
Reply by Don Corey.
1 hr ago
True, but she is otherwise avoiding JT like the plague; not hard to understand why.
Comment by Hugh MacDonald.
5 hrs ago
Ronald Reagan once said, “Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.”
All Comments
Comment by Jack Bell.
6 min ago
...so literally none of the election promises does anything for me.
Exactly like every program they've implemented in the last 5 years, I am either not the target demographic or if I am I make too much money to get it.
Jim Redmond
Regardless of policies, candidates or track record, I will always vote for the Conservative candidate.
Lynette Browne
Reply to Jim Redmond
You know, Bill.
Jim Redmond
Reply to Lynette Browne
Please elaborate.
Lynette Browne
Reply to Jim Redmond
You know who you vote for no matter what.
End.
Jim Redmond
Reply to Lynette Browne
Yes, I will always support the Progressive Conservatives.
Ron parker
Reply to Jim Redmond
well lets bake you a cake with blue sprinkles.
Jim Redmond
Reply to Ron parker
Sounds good to me. Thanks.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Jim Redmond
Say hey to Higgy for me will ya?
Ted DiBlase
Reply to Jim Redmond
You sound like the pm`s followers.
Tom Campbell
Reply to Jim Redmond
colour blind?
Comment by Matt Steele.
25 min ago
If you got to know him, Higgs is actually a really nice guy. That's why I am voting for him. Because he is a nice guy.
Reply by Ron parker.
6 min ago
you okay Matt?
Reply by David Amos.
1 min ago
He never was
Comment by Arron Wheatly.
27 min ago
I'm sure it will be absolutely unbiased.
Comment by Matt Steele.
27 min ago
Higgs will be triumphant once again!
Reply by David Amos.
26 min ago
IMHO It would not be wise to bet the farm on your opinion
Comment by Walter Vrbetic.
35 min ago
'...PC Party delivered a major campaign announcement in July, promising to cut the HST from 15 per cent to 13 per cent if re-elected.'
And claimed it would save NBers $1,000 a year... since average income is 46,800... how is that possible?
Reply by Lynette Browne.
31 min ago
Much like the Rustad Rebate in BC: starts with a $1,500-per-month exemption that would cost around $900 million for Budget 2026. The rebate would then be increased by $500 each year until it reaches the target amount in 2029, which could cost around $3.5 billion if used by every home in B.C.
Reply by Arron Wheatly.
25 min ago
And, drive up housing even more, which, of course is inflationary.
Bad plan. Let's hope it never happens.
Just address the root cause which is an explosion in population in the last two years.
Reply by Lynette Browne.
16 min ago
I agree it is a bad plan.
But disagree the root cause is the "explosion in population". Immigration is an easy target, but a very small part of the problem. Govts stopped building social housing, the feds back in the early 90's, handing off the policy to the provinces who didn't follow through (except P.Q.). Then, for decades, money was essentially free, interest minimal, and everyone was buying houses as homes and investments, and retirement funds.
Meanwhile, provinces and employers are asking for new people, especially lower-wage workers, but also in construction and HC.
Reply by David Amos.
3 min ago
It isn't
Comment by Daniel Franklin.
51 min ago
Higgs lost my vote when he decided that the best interests of corporate buddies were more important than best interests of everyday citizens.
Reply by Jake Newman.
44 min ago
and what was that exactly?
Reply by Ronald Miller.
35 min ago
So he lost your vote when he decided to treat Irving in the same way every gov't has in NB for decades. Maybe ask the 1000s of everyday citizens who work for them along with the 1000s who serve those who work there how it should work, they would love to hear from you.
Reply by Bob Smith.
32 min ago
So the Liberals and Conservatives are really no different in governing...whether it's Higgs and Alward or Gallant and Graham. Same style for decades.
Reply by Matt Steele.
26 min ago
Everybody has to keep voting right wing. Go Team Higgs
Reply by Arron Wheatly.
23 min ago
You'll never get a response because there isn't one.
Comment by Daniel Franklin.
53 min ago
Everyone already knows who they aren't voting for.
David Amos
I am stocked up with peanuts and popcorn
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to David Amos
Deja Vu Anyone?
N.B. party leaders clash over bilingualism at second televised debate
By Kevin Bissett The Canadian Press
Posted September 15, 2018 10:10 am
Higgs, Liberal Premier Brian Gallant and the other party leaders squared off on a community centre stage in Fredericton in a 90-minute debate carried on Rogers TV.
Gerald Bourque, the folksy, cowboy-hatted leader of the KISS party – or Keep It Simple Solutions – said with modern translation it’s not necessary for the premier to speak both English and French.
He joked that if you want a bilingual premier, you should vote for Gallant.
“He’s putting this province into debt in both official languages,” Bourque quipped, drawing laughter from the audience of staff and supporters for all the parties.
Gallant later acknowledged the joke was “pretty funny,” but stressed it’s important for the premier and cabinet ministers to demonstrate to both communities that they take their language seriously.
Comment by Lou Bell.
1 hr ago
The budget for the past year was 1 billion dollars more than the previous year , and the budget for the coming year is a billion more than the past year . Funny how the Liberals like to claim he's spending no money . The surpluses were because of the shortage of Nurses , Doctors , and educators the Liberals left the province with , and with no new trainees the Greens and Liberals wanted that money thrown somewhere , including hundreds of millions toward transit that we had no need for at all . All to get matched by the uncontrolled Feds . With hundreds of new Nurse hires and new Doctors coming online that money under Higgs will now be spent reasonably . Just think , like with many Municipalities all across Canada , we could have done the Green / Liberal thing and had hundreds of broken down electric buses sitting in bus garages all over the province just waiting for parts and batteries .
Comment by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
so vague promises by the libs and greens and can't answer any questions on those promises.
Reply by Bob Smith.
1 hr ago
So you believe Higgs promise to cut the HST is not just as vague? Before you say yes, remember Higgs handling of the benefit for low income folks that epitomized the word "vague" with its changes.
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
and yes.
Comment by Lou Bell.
2 hrs ago
I wanna hear where Ms. Holt is gonna get all the money to pay for her promises ! The only time she was asked , was when shew stated she was gonna create 30 collaborative clinics in the first 3 years for something like 128 million or so . Unless Doctors are gonn a take a large pay cut , ain't gonna happen ! And her response as to how she wa gonn a pay for it ? " Well if Premier Higgs has 400 million to pay for a 2 % cut in the HST , then she could come up with the 128 million . Really ? That's her answer ? That's what Americans get outta DJT ! She was a huge part of the 2 billion dollars plus the liberals left after their last term in office , and it's quite obvious it would happen again if they got elected . And why 3 years ? The reason is that the Liberals hired / trained no Doctors , no Nurses in their last term in power , while Higgs has trained and hired hundreds of Nurses so far , brought in Doctors from outside NB and we have had a net gain of close to 20 new hires already this year . He has also worked with Universities in training new Doctors . People need to realize there was a huge shortage of Nurses and it takes 4 years to train new ones . It also takes 7 ( YES SEVEN !! ) years to train Doctors , and thos eDoctors Holt is promising to hire ? Well they're the ones Higgs has put in training and the HIGGs Trained Doctors will be coming online in the next 3 years ! Funny she hasn't mentioned that .
Reply by Bob Smith.
1 hr ago
Net of 20 and u want to celebrate that? Wow.
Reply by Lou Bell.
1 hr ago
It takes 7 years to train a Doctor . Liberals think there's thousands sitting around waiting to be hired . The ones Higgs has now in training will be taking at least 2 more years . That's why Holt is not promising the collaborative clinics immediately . Waiting for ther " HIGGS trainees " to graduate ! The liberals trained none while in power . Left an empty cupboard .
Reply by Bob Smith.
1 hr ago
What have the Conservatives done for healthcare? Besides blaming the health boards, I haven't seen Higgs improve anything. Both Liberals and Conservatives have done bare min for healthcare going back decades...anyone who thinks Higgs deserves praise for the mess out there needs to remove their blue tinted glasses and look again.
Reply by Steve Morningstar.
1 hr ago
A net 20 is way more than what we were getting with the last liberal government. We are over 100 net doc and over 1000 net nurses since Higgs took over. Should always strive to do better but considering every province in Canada is struggling to add any that's a pretty decent. Unlike the liberals where we were paying millions to universities and getting nothing.
Reply by Steve Morningstar.
1 hr ago
Reduced the wait time for knee hip surgeries from years under the liberals to months, added 100+ docs and 1000+ nurses.. instituted the Evisits created some clinic models (more on the way). the list goes on. It was terrible under the previous gov. and then hampered again with Covid. We are starting to see a turnaround but it does take time. It didn't get to where it was over night it was years of neglect (by both cons and liberals) but we are finally seeing some improvement.
Comment by Ronald Miller.
2 hrs ago
If they are running really short on time they can ask Holt to list all the accomplishments she and Gallant brought to NB from 2014-18.
Reply by Lou Bell.
2 hrs ago
Perhaps also where the Nurses went that they paid 2 NB Universities for extra Nursing seats . Or why she's waiting for 3 years to hire the Doctors for her 30 clinics . The same Doctors Higgs has in training whatwith the arrangements he made with Universities to train . It's obvious the Liberals had made no arrangements to train Doctors , and if they had it would be like the Nurse deal . Millions upon millions paid out and we'd get not even one .
Reply by Bob Smith.
2 hrs ago
Why not ask Higgs about numbers related to his decisions that he ignored in favor of his personal feelings? They could ask Higgs why he was fundraising in Alberta rather than here.
Reply by Les Cooper.
1 hr ago
Probably because NB has no $.
Reply by Bob Smith.
1 hr ago
How could that be with Higgs boasting about his personal leadership in creating a great financial lifestyle for everyone?
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
Holt has fundraised outside of NB.
Reply by Bob Smith.
1 hr ago
Where and when? Link please.
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
Holt said she held one fundraising event in Toronto shortly after becoming Liberal leader but has no other such events planned for outside New Brunswick.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/premier-fundraising-western-canada-1.7086546
Comment by Ronald Miller.
2 hrs ago
Will JP bring up Holt's past with the Gallant gov't and the big part she played while NB was ship wreck, I am guessing no.
Reply by Lou Bell.
2 hrs ago
Maybe why she thinks she's " leader material " after getting thoroughly trounced the last time she ran in an election . We saw what happened to the last 2 people who lost while running as leader of the Liberals and Ms. Holt is certainly no better or unqualified than they were .
Comment by Robert Holmes.
2 hrs ago
How much debate will there be on the Energy/Natural Resources File?
William Peters
Seeing Higgs smile looks forced.
Ronald Miller
Reply to William Peters
Maybe it will be a debate question of JP's.
James Risdon
Reply to William Peters
A bad photograph is an excellent way for you to make up your mind on which candidate will do the best job of governing the province.
Lou Bell
Reply to James Risdon
Yeah , but really , what more would you expect ? After all , look at what the Liberals ran in the 2 previous elections . Certainly wasn't their qualifications !
James Risdon
Reply to Lou Bell
I keep expecting - and getting disappointed when they don't - that people will actually use their brains and think about the issues in a logical and rationale manner and vote accordingly.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to James Risdon
I bet you two would lie to forget this election EH?
Liberals hang on to most of north, but lose a minister
Liberal cabinet minister Wilfred Roussel defeated in Shippagan-Lameque-Miscou
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Sep 25, 2018 1:37 AM ADT
Bathurst West-Beresford
Liberal incumbent and Education Minister Brian Kenny won with 4,351 votes.
PC Yvon Landry had 1,082 votes, while Mike Rau for the Green Party had 503, NDP candidate Anne-Renée Thomas had 443 and KISS candidate James Risdon had 64.
There were 6,443 ballots cast in the riding with 10,878 eligible voters.
valmond landry
Reply to James Risdon
The expert has spoken
David Amos
Reply to valmond landry
2018
Bathurst West-Beresford
Liberal incumbent and Education Minister Brian Kenny won with 4,351 votes.
PC Yvon Landry had 1,082 votes, while Mike Rau for the Green Party had 503, NDP candidate Anne-Renée Thomas had 443 and KISS candidate James Risdon had 64.
Hidden comment.
The avatar of "Guest"
content deactivated
Reply by Ronald Miller.
2 hrs ago
He would not have a job with any other agency unless he went right wing and decided to work for fox.
Comment by Andre Kornhauser.
2 hrs ago
If your promised real estate on the moon, its a long shot.
Reply by William Peters.
2 hrs ago
You can always believe in the Cons economic fair dust they love spreading. Spend on nothing, slash and burn, produce surpluses, transfer wealth to the business portion of the private sector and watch as the expensive problems accumulate for grown ups to deal with later. A surplus is, for lack of a better euphemism, an over taxation and needless burden of NBers. The fact they even get a positive credit for this is testament to how badly some misunderstand the role of government. Paying off debt, for the record, should be seen as an almost criminal act. It's certainly onerous, imo.
Reply by Lou Bell.
1 hr ago
Really ? Tell that to all those who go bankrupt ! Tell it to all those Canadians who are struggling to keep their head above water under the Fed liberals . Tell it to those who have credit agencies who are taking their homes and autos , and furniture to those who can't even pay the interest on what they own . Tell it to all those who are paying the minimum amount on their credit card bills because they have nothing tpo pay on the principal . In fact , tell it to the Liberals who don't pay their / our bills , and the only time those bills do get paid is when the Conservatives get elected . And in fact , tell it to all the other countries in the world who are stating our Liberal leaders are NOT paying their share in NATO and many other " free world " organizations where our significance in the world has taken a huge hit , thanks to trudeau and especially NB's own Dom LeBlanc .
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
paying off debt and lowering taxes is the best way to move things forward.
Hidden comment.
The avatar of "Guest"
content deactivated
Reply by William Peters.
2 hrs ago
He's doing what all citizens should do to their representatives. I is not about fawning over "your guy". This isn't pro sports where you buy the jersey and root for your team. If you want to think in terms of teams consider on being team citizen and demanding that you get bottom up responses.
Hidden reply.
The avatar of "Guest"
content deactivated
Reply by Robert Snider.
1 hr ago
Bravo!
No comments:
Post a Comment