New Brunswick election focusing attention on province's health-care woes
Liberals, Greens prescribe major infusions of money to cure health troubles
One week into New Brunswick's provincial election campaign, the state of health care in the province has emerged as a central issue — with parties differing sharply on how serious problems in the system have become and whether spending more money is needed to fix them.
Jamie Gillies, a political scientist at St. Thomas University, told Information Morning Fredericton on Thursday that after this week's leaders' debate, it is clear troubles in health care will be front and centre for voters this year
"I think that's where Susan Holt especially wants to push the narrative of this election," said Gillies. "Look at things like a health-care system in crisis."
During Wednesday's debate, Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs was under attack from both Liberal Leader Susan Holt and Green Party Leader David Coon for steering money into debt reduction over six years, which they argued should have been used to improve basic health services.
"One of the reasons why it's taking so long to advance primary care in this province is because we have a government unwilling to act and invest in health care and very inflexible about the approach they take," said Holt.
Liberal
Leader Susan Holt's first campaign commitment was to announce a
multimillion-dollar plan to fund collaborative care clinics in New
Brunswick. She has since unveiled six more health-care proposals. (Chad Ingraham/CBC)
Higgs disputes that claim and in the election is sticking to his long-held conviction that health-care problems can be fixed without spending heavily to do it.
"No one ever says that government is running things as well as it could be," said Higgs during the debate.
"No one ever says that we couldn't find better results in innovative solutions."
WATCH | From promising investments to pointing fingers, here are the party leaders on health care:
That is a similar argument Higgs made in the 2018 election when he pledged to cut wait times for knee and hip replacements in New Brunswick in half, through innovations like better scheduling of surgical suites and redirecting existing hospital budgets "to focus on wait-list reduction."
It was a prescription that appears not to have worked. Five years later, waits for those procedures have grown longer.
In 2018, according to the Canadian Institute of Health Information, 55 per cent of hip replacement surgeries and 43 per cent of knee replacements in New Brunswick were happening within the national benchmark recommendations of six months.
In 2023, those numbers had slipped to 42 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively.
Other health services have also deteriorated
This year, between January and June, provincial data shows between 11 and 19 per cent of cancer patients who were ready for radiation therapy had to wait more than four weeks for treatment — depending on the month.
That is more than double the number of those who had to wait that long in any month in 2018.
And last December, a national report on health-care wait times published by the Fraser Institute showed that in 2023, when counting all procedures needed to correct an array of medical conditions, it took a median number of 26.3 weeks for a patient in New Brunswick to receive treatment after having an appointment with a specialist.
Blaine
Higgs does not dispute that problems exist in New Brunswick's
health-care system but is adamant there are solutions, not yet
implemented, that can be deployed without great cost. (Shutterstock)
That was double the national average and nearly 10 weeks more waiting than New Brunswick patients faced in 2018.
For non-urgent psychiatric treatment, the median wait time in New Brunswick after a doctor's referral has grown to 52 weeks, five times the national average.
Higgs does not dispute that problems exist in New Brunswick's health-care system but is adamant there are solutions, not yet implemented, that can be deployed without great cost.
"We have a billion dollars more per year we're spending on health care than we were four or five years ago," said Higgs during the debate.
"There would be those that say spend more money in health care and it'll get better. And I will say we need to find a way to do health-care better."
National health-care reports do support the claim that health-care spending is up in New Brunswick.
Blaine
Higgs, as leader of the Progressive Conservatives, is betting voters
will opt for lower taxes rather than sharp increases in health-care
spending when they vote in October. (Alix Villeneuve/Radio-Canada)
The Canadian Institute of Health Information says government spending on the full range of health-care services in the province increased by $983 million between 2018 and 2023.
However, that increase was the smallest, in percentage terms, among all 10 provinces.
The average increase in health spending among provinces since 2018 has been one-third higher. Had funding increases in New Brunswick matched that average, it would have added another $344 million to provincial health-care spending in 2023.
That, and the fact New Brunswick has run budget surpluses for the past six years, but chose to retire $2.5 billion in provincial debt rather than boost health-care spending further, has become a central point of attack against Higgs by his opponents.
Dr.
John Dornan was fired by Blaine Higgs as head of New Brunswick's
anglophone hospital service in 2022. He won a $2-million wrongful
dismissal judgement and is now running in the Saint John riding of
Portland-Simonds for the Liberal Party. (Robert Jones/CBC)
Seven of the first 13 planks released in the Liberal platform so far involve fixing health-care problems in some way.
The party is also running two new candidates who directly tangled with Higgs over health-care issues in the last six years.
That includes former PC MLA Bruce Northrup, who broke with Higgs in 2020 over an abandoned plan to reduce emergency services in smaller hospitals.
Also running is the former head of New Brunswick's anglophone hospital system, Dr. John Dornan, who was abruptly fired by Higgs in 2022 and subsequently won a $2-million wrongful dismissal judgment against the province.
The Green Party has also made health care a central issue in its campaign. It's proposing a $1.5-billion increase in funding over four years to shore up what it calls a "crumbling" system.
Green
Party Leader David Coon called for massive new investments of nearly
$400 million per year in health care on Day 2 of the New Brunswick
election campaign. (Pool camera)
"We have a state of emergency in our health-care system," said Coon during the debate.
"It is Code Orange. Everyone has to get on deck and it's going to require a generational investment to fix the problem."
Higgs calls proposals like that a mistake that will put New Brunswick "back in the red."
PCs have proposed their own $1.5-billion plan over four years to cut the HST by two percentage points but Higgs says that will be affordable by managing government costs, including in health care.
The party has announced a plant to spend an extra $25 million per year to improve access to doctors, nurse practitioners and others but the party believes savings to be found inside the health system can help pay for other improvements.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
389 Comments
David Amos
"PCs have proposed their own $1.5-billion plan over four
years to cut the HST by two percentage points but Higgs says that will
be affordable by managing government costs, including in health care."
Yea Right
David Amos
Anyone notice anything missing?
Ed Franks
Reply to David Amos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cFOKT6TlSE
Ralph Steinberg
In 2018, according to the Canadian Institute of Health Information, 55 per cent of hip replacement surgeries and 43 per cent of knee replacements in New Brunswick were happening within the national benchmark recommendations of six months.
In 2023, those numbers had slipped to 42 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively.
Other health services have also deteriorated
So Higgs has made it worse....it is 2024, stop blaming the pandemic.
Lou Bell
Reply to Ralph Steinberg
Like Ms. Holt's facts from last nights debate , time to get outta 2023 Ralph , we're almost into 2025 !!!!
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
Do you remember when I ran in Fat Fred City?
Lou Bell
Funny how the Liberals demanded heads roll back in 2022 over how Healthcare was being handled under Dornan , Higgs answered their call , and now the fellow they called for being dismissed is running for them ! But then again , they have many resoundingly defeated candidates from past elections running for them , including some from other parties .Anyone know what values the liberals have these days , if any ?
Lou Bell
Reply to Lou Bell
I suggest they change theri name to the " Potpourri Party " . Green / Orange / Red , really what and who do they represent ? Appears no one !
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
Do you remember when I ran in Saint John?
Lou Bell
Reply to David Amos
No , and what happened ? How many votes did you get ?
Ralph Steinberg
Reply to Lou Bell
Higgs is in power, he has made it worse since taking it over in the healthcare department......reality. Whatabout is amusing.
Lou Bell
Reply to Ralph Steinberg
Not any use in even trying to explain to a Liberal ! Like Holt did last night , their facts are from 2022 and 2023 ! It's almpst 2025 Ralph ! 2 years later !!!!
Lou Bell
Reply to David Amos
Or do you mean the Marathon by the Sea ? If so , even if you finished 2nd from last you did better than when you ran in the election .
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
I ran against a Doctor in 2006 His boss was Shawn Graham
Lou Bell
What's interesting is the libeals , Greens , and even this media wanted to focus on their false narrative that the majority of NBers were against Bill 713 and also of discontinuing safe injection sites and in some cases , forced rehabilitation . And now that it's come out that the majority of NBers actually prefer bill 713 and of parents actually knowing what their children are doing , and also of adding no more safe injection sites and also of mandated rehab in some cases , the Greens and Liberals AND the media have decided they need to shift gears rapidly to something else ! These two parties and the media have constantly had to reverse their thinking more times than what one has in toes and fingers , although it appears from their fiscal knowledge they would fail to be able to count that high .
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
Who did I run against in 2018 and who is he running for now?
Max Ruby
Put the phone down and see what is happening to Canada. Go out, talk to people. Wake up. I love you all.
David Amos
Reply to Max Ruby
and make sure you vote
Marc LeBlanc
For all those blaming the feds and influx of newcomers on our healhcare problems need to get your alternative facts from somewhere other than Facebook
Max Ruby
Reply to Marc LeBlanc
All you need to do is get off face palm and visit your Tim Hortons, mcDonalds, gas stations, all fast food places and corner stores to see the truth Marc....get off the phone
John Montgomery
Reply to Max Ruby
If those people were all being paid higher then they would be contributing taxes that could be used to expand and subsidize training for medical staff
John Montgomery
Reply to Max Ruby
But a person making close to minimum wage will never support themselves.
Max Ruby
Reply to John Montgomery
Those jobs are for our youth, 37% unemployed now in Canada for them. I put myself thru school 25 years ago on those jobs. $14 per hour hauling meat. Bought a car cash, paid fo school, paid rent. Canadian youth done now.
John Montgomery
Reply to Max Ruby
Then why are there thousands of people working those jobs while school is in session?
John Montgomery
Reply to Max Ruby
We both know they don't care if the employee is a student or not.
Bob Smith
Reply to Max Ruby
Maybe you should realize that all those businesses employ lobbyists to push the feds into weak tfw guidelines. The feds recently toughened those guidelines but guess which province is largely exempt thanks to lobbyists? Yep, NB.
Max Ruby
Reply to Bob Smith
NB is exempt. I know.
John Montgomery
Reply to Bob Smith
If there were a law that students got lower pay and anyone supporting a family got a living wage then all the problems with tax increases would disappear.
Ralph Steinberg
Reply to Max Ruby
And what is amusing, like other provinces, they are bringing them in for TFW to work those jobs.........at Tim's etc....your own provincial leader is bringing them in.
Get the facts.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
What is a living wage for a spin doctor?
Ralph Skavinsky
Gotta run..been a slice...
David Amos
Reply to Ralph Skavinsky
of what?
Ralph Skavinsky
Did anyone watch Power and Politics tonight..very informative
James McCaffrey
Reply to Ralph Skavinsky
Always.
David Amos
Reply to Ralph Skavinsky
I did
Marc LeBlanc
New Brunswick has a great tradition of not electing premiers. Instead we throw them out and the next in line gets his/her chance.
That will be the case with hopefully a minority government. The COR party will be banished back to what ever rock they crawled out from under and we'll hopefully get our actual PROGRESSIVE Conservative party back from the ashes
Lou Bell
Reply to Marc LeBlanc
And by the same token , the SANB Liberals who exist to serve one group of NBers and one group only are relegated to 3rd party status or worse !
David Amos
Reply to Marc LeBlanc
Dream on
William Murdoch
Most by now agree that The PM has broken all things Health Care.
John Montgomery
Reply to William Murdoch
The pm isn't allowed to touch healthcare. If anything that is the real solution. Give the federal government control.
William Murdoch
Reply to John Montgomery
Quebec I am sure agrees with you. Heck The French in New Brunswick would even opt out.
Randy Vandelay
Reply to William Murdoch
How exactly?
Max Ruby
Reply to John Montgomery
The PM can and did mandate certain things to save the pension fund that he borrowed from, an early death means less payments that you paid into...it was global pandemic don't ya know.
Max Ruby
Reply to Max Ruby
Correction if you die you don't take pension that you paid into...all your life
David Amos
Reply to William Murdoch
Yup they would not even give me a Health Care Card for years
Lou Bell
Reply to John Montgomery
Sure ! Maybe you need only look at the Inquiry into Chinese election interference in the Toronto area . Included busing of Chinese students to Liberal nominations for MP with the threat they would be removed from Canada if they failed to vote for the " Chinese preferred " candidate . And when CSIS informed the guy at the head of the Liberals he did nothing . In fact , that happened in over a year ago and the liberal now claims he knew nothing about what happened . That's the kind of leadership you want ? Gotcha .
William Murdoch
After reading every comment and reply I have come to this conclusion:
The problem is with the government 't bureaucrats and administrators (the elected officials need to deal with them) but also the workers (docs, nurses, techs, non-medical staff, etc.,) all the unions, College of Physicians & Surgeons, and all the groups that represent some group (including special interest groups), and of course the citizens. Unless all these groups are willing to work together and make major changes to operations, health care all across Canada will always be in a crisis regardless of how much money is thrown in.
Max Ruby
Reply to William Murdoch
By design
David Amos
Reply to William Murdoch
Do ya think this comment section will stand the test of time?
Max Ruby
You will Own Nothing and be Happy...
William Murdoch
Reply to Max Ruby
Only if I can find happiness in less than 15 minutes travel time by foot.
Randy Vandelay
Reply to Max Ruby
Who told you to believe that?
William Murdoch
Reply to Randy Vandelay
The designers of the Narrative. The Narrative that has now been proven was nonsense. The designers in The UK are now claiming as much. Under oath in The USA the designers admitted as much.
John Montgomery
Reply to William Murdoch
Conspiracy theorist mumbo jumbo. Words designed to dismiss scientific evidence.
Randy Vandelay
Reply to William Murdoch
That's too funny
Max Ruby
Reply to Randy Vandelay
https://www.weforum.org/videos/series/the-great-reset-863c8ea2d4/
David Amos
Reply to Max Ruby
Surely you jest
Randy Vandelay
Reply to Max Ruby
That gullible, eh?
Max Ruby
Reply to David Amos
More like Animal Farm
John Montgomery
The most telling thing is when i ask anyone how Higgs has made life better in NB today, there is only deflections and excuses.
Bill Hanley
Reply to John Montgomery
He eliminated the deficit and reduced the provincial debt.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
So you say
John Montgomery
Reply to Bill Hanley
So you didn't answer my question. How has this made life better for new brunswickers in the last six years? Without improvements to show for it, that's just a number on paper.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
He answered you
John Montgomery
Reply to David Amos
I didn't see the answer. Paid debt doesn't automatically make lives better. Only if you spend the money you saved on lives do you make lives better.
Bill Hanley
Reply to John Montgomery
It is reducing the servicing costs of the debt which frees up money for other things like healthcare and education.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
You have yet to answer my simple question
John Montgomery
Reply to Bill Hanley
Ok so where has that money been spent and what are the results? Less wait for healthcare? More staff? More teachers? More schools? Students performing better? Anything to show for it?
John Montgomery
Reply to David Amos
The question was very off topic.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
I don't see your name on a candidate list nor have I ever
John Montgomery
Reply to David Amos
Again, off topic.
William Murdoch
Why hasn't The Premier concentrated on forcing people to enter The Health Care Field.
Greg Miller
Reply to William Murdoch
"forcing people" -- and just how do you do that?
John Montgomery
Reply to William Murdoch
Why hasn't he worked to make conditions better for health care workers?
William Murdoch
Reply to Greg Miller
I read here that some want people forced into care. Into care where there is no facilities and of course therefor no beds. I suggest that if The Premier would have spent more time forcing people into Health Care Rolls those then forced into care will have people to see them.
William Murdoch
Reply to John Montgomery
I know what a push poll question is. Do you?
Jake Newman
Reply to John Montgomery
let me guess, just keep throwing more money to them...it'll never end and there is only so much tax payer money to go around.
John Montgomery
Reply to William Murdoch
Yes and they specifically refer to polling questions. This isnt a poll.
William Murdoch
Reply to John Montgomery
I now know that you have no understanding of what push poll questions are.
John Montgomery
Reply to William Murdoch
They are questions in a poll designed to promote an agenda rather than collect information in an unbiased way.
William Murdoch
Reply to John Montgomery
Here is a push poll question:
"Why hasn't [The Premier of NB] worked to make conditions better for health care workers?"
You lead with what you believe. Some will not care about your opinion and therefore would refuse to answer your leading question. Perhaps you alone think that The Premier has not worked to make conditions better for health care workers.
John Montgomery
Reply to William Murdoch
Well this is a public forum. Some people answer and some don't, but the general assumption is that if the answer is clear there will be many people who could answer and eventually one will.
You are just attempting to gaslight the conversation by applying a term that doesn't even apply to an open forum.
William Murdoch
Reply to John Montgomery
I agree it usually doesn't show up in forums anymore. If you branched out and perhaps away from The Mother Corp you would learn that posting up of a push poll question ended decades ago, But not for some - those that have an opinion that they think that everyone else has too.
John Montgomery
Reply to William Murdoch
Yeah i no longer know what you are even talking about. Only conspiracy theorists say things like "mother Corp"
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
Here is a simple question for you
How many times did I run for public office thus far?
William Murdoch
Reply to John Montgomery
Only conspiracy theorists say things like "The Mother Corp".
Of course everyone according you agrees with you.
William Murdoch
Reply to David Amos
Five or six for sure.
David Amos
Reply to William Murdoch
Seven and soon to be eight
William Murdoch
Reply to David Amos
Go for it. And as you might have noted other commenters say so much. I'm so old I doubt that I could help.
Reply to Douglas James
There is no NDP candidate. Maybe 3 lefts don’t make it right.
David Amos
Higgy called be crazy while I was running his buddy in this election and he sat in opposition
Ralph Steinberg
In 2018, according to the Canadian Institute of Health Information, 55 per cent of hip replacement surgeries and 43 per cent of knee replacements in New Brunswick were happening within the national benchmark recommendations of six months.
In 2023, those numbers had slipped to 42 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively.
Other health services have also deteriorated
So Higgs has made it worse....it is 2024, stop blaming the pandemic.
Lou Bell
Reply to Ralph Steinberg
Like Ms. Holt's facts from last nights debate , time to get outta 2023 Ralph , we're almost into 2025 !!!!
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
Do you remember when I ran in Fat Fred City?
Lou Bell
Funny how the Liberals demanded heads roll back in 2022 over how Healthcare was being handled under Dornan , Higgs answered their call , and now the fellow they called for being dismissed is running for them ! But then again , they have many resoundingly defeated candidates from past elections running for them , including some from other parties .Anyone know what values the liberals have these days , if any ?
Lou Bell
Reply to Lou Bell
I suggest they change theri name to the " Potpourri Party " . Green / Orange / Red , really what and who do they represent ? Appears no one !
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
Do you remember when I ran in Saint John?
Lou Bell
Reply to David Amos
No , and what happened ? How many votes did you get ?
Ralph Steinberg
Reply to Lou Bell
Higgs is in power, he has made it worse since taking it over in the healthcare department......reality. Whatabout is amusing.
Lou Bell
Reply to Ralph Steinberg
Not any use in even trying to explain to a Liberal ! Like Holt did last night , their facts are from 2022 and 2023 ! It's almpst 2025 Ralph ! 2 years later !!!!
Lou Bell
Reply to David Amos
Or do you mean the Marathon by the Sea ? If so , even if you finished 2nd from last you did better than when you ran in the election .
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
I ran against a Doctor in 2006 His boss was Shawn Graham
Lou Bell
What's interesting is the libeals , Greens , and even this media wanted to focus on their false narrative that the majority of NBers were against Bill 713 and also of discontinuing safe injection sites and in some cases , forced rehabilitation . And now that it's come out that the majority of NBers actually prefer bill 713 and of parents actually knowing what their children are doing , and also of adding no more safe injection sites and also of mandated rehab in some cases , the Greens and Liberals AND the media have decided they need to shift gears rapidly to something else ! These two parties and the media have constantly had to reverse their thinking more times than what one has in toes and fingers , although it appears from their fiscal knowledge they would fail to be able to count that high .
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
Who did I run against in 2018 and who is he running for now?
Max Ruby
Put the phone down and see what is happening to Canada. Go out, talk to people. Wake up. I love you all.
David Amos
Reply to Max Ruby
and make sure you vote
Marc LeBlanc
For all those blaming the feds and influx of newcomers on our healhcare problems need to get your alternative facts from somewhere other than Facebook
Max Ruby
Reply to Marc LeBlanc
All you need to do is get off face palm and visit your Tim Hortons, mcDonalds, gas stations, all fast food places and corner stores to see the truth Marc....get off the phone
John Montgomery
Reply to Max Ruby
If those people were all being paid higher then they would be contributing taxes that could be used to expand and subsidize training for medical staff
John Montgomery
Reply to Max Ruby
But a person making close to minimum wage will never support themselves.
Max Ruby
Reply to John Montgomery
Those jobs are for our youth, 37% unemployed now in Canada for them. I put myself thru school 25 years ago on those jobs. $14 per hour hauling meat. Bought a car cash, paid fo school, paid rent. Canadian youth done now.
John Montgomery
Reply to Max Ruby
Then why are there thousands of people working those jobs while school is in session?
John Montgomery
Reply to Max Ruby
We both know they don't care if the employee is a student or not.
Bob Smith
Reply to Max Ruby
Maybe you should realize that all those businesses employ lobbyists to push the feds into weak tfw guidelines. The feds recently toughened those guidelines but guess which province is largely exempt thanks to lobbyists? Yep, NB.
Max Ruby
Reply to Bob Smith
NB is exempt. I know.
John Montgomery
Reply to Bob Smith
If there were a law that students got lower pay and anyone supporting a family got a living wage then all the problems with tax increases would disappear.
Ralph Steinberg
Reply to Max Ruby
And what is amusing, like other provinces, they are bringing them in for TFW to work those jobs.........at Tim's etc....your own provincial leader is bringing them in.
Get the facts.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
What is a living wage for a spin doctor?
Ralph Skavinsky
Gotta run..been a slice...
David Amos
Reply to Ralph Skavinsky
of what?
Ralph Skavinsky
Did anyone watch Power and Politics tonight..very informative
James McCaffrey
Reply to Ralph Skavinsky
Always.
David Amos
Reply to Ralph Skavinsky
I did
Marc LeBlanc
New Brunswick has a great tradition of not electing premiers. Instead we throw them out and the next in line gets his/her chance.
That will be the case with hopefully a minority government. The COR party will be banished back to what ever rock they crawled out from under and we'll hopefully get our actual PROGRESSIVE Conservative party back from the ashes
Lou Bell
Reply to Marc LeBlanc
And by the same token , the SANB Liberals who exist to serve one group of NBers and one group only are relegated to 3rd party status or worse !
David Amos
Reply to Marc LeBlanc
Dream on
William Murdoch
Most by now agree that The PM has broken all things Health Care.
John Montgomery
Reply to William Murdoch
The pm isn't allowed to touch healthcare. If anything that is the real solution. Give the federal government control.
William Murdoch
Reply to John Montgomery
Quebec I am sure agrees with you. Heck The French in New Brunswick would even opt out.
Randy Vandelay
Reply to William Murdoch
How exactly?
Max Ruby
Reply to John Montgomery
The PM can and did mandate certain things to save the pension fund that he borrowed from, an early death means less payments that you paid into...it was global pandemic don't ya know.
Max Ruby
Reply to Max Ruby
Correction if you die you don't take pension that you paid into...all your life
David Amos
Reply to William Murdoch
Yup they would not even give me a Health Care Card for years
Lou Bell
Reply to John Montgomery
Sure ! Maybe you need only look at the Inquiry into Chinese election interference in the Toronto area . Included busing of Chinese students to Liberal nominations for MP with the threat they would be removed from Canada if they failed to vote for the " Chinese preferred " candidate . And when CSIS informed the guy at the head of the Liberals he did nothing . In fact , that happened in over a year ago and the liberal now claims he knew nothing about what happened . That's the kind of leadership you want ? Gotcha .
William Murdoch
After reading every comment and reply I have come to this conclusion:
The problem is with the government 't bureaucrats and administrators (the elected officials need to deal with them) but also the workers (docs, nurses, techs, non-medical staff, etc.,) all the unions, College of Physicians & Surgeons, and all the groups that represent some group (including special interest groups), and of course the citizens. Unless all these groups are willing to work together and make major changes to operations, health care all across Canada will always be in a crisis regardless of how much money is thrown in.
Max Ruby
Reply to William Murdoch
By design
David Amos
Reply to William Murdoch
Do ya think this comment section will stand the test of time?
Max Ruby
You will Own Nothing and be Happy...
William Murdoch
Reply to Max Ruby
Only if I can find happiness in less than 15 minutes travel time by foot.
Randy Vandelay
Reply to Max Ruby
Who told you to believe that?
William Murdoch
Reply to Randy Vandelay
The designers of the Narrative. The Narrative that has now been proven was nonsense. The designers in The UK are now claiming as much. Under oath in The USA the designers admitted as much.
John Montgomery
Reply to William Murdoch
Conspiracy theorist mumbo jumbo. Words designed to dismiss scientific evidence.
Randy Vandelay
Reply to William Murdoch
That's too funny
Max Ruby
Reply to Randy Vandelay
https://www.weforum.org/videos/series/the-great-reset-863c8ea2d4/
David Amos
Reply to Max Ruby
Surely you jest
Randy Vandelay
Reply to Max Ruby
That gullible, eh?
John Montgomery
Can anyone even say how Higgs will pay for the HST cut? If it is cutting wasteful spending like he says, then why hasn't he cut it already? If wasteful spending has been happening all this time than he must also admit responsibility for ignoring it this long.
Ralph Skavinsky
Reply to John Montgomery
All governments work with march 31 as their fiscal year end..any new plans start from that date as Imsure you are aware
John Montgomery
Reply to Ralph Skavinsky
So this doesn't answer the question, has Higgs not had the opportunity six times already in that case?
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
This is the same spin all day
Can anyone even say how Higgs will pay for the HST cut? If it is cutting wasteful spending like he says, then why hasn't he cut it already? If wasteful spending has been happening all this time than he must also admit responsibility for ignoring it this long.
Ralph Skavinsky
Reply to John Montgomery
All governments work with march 31 as their fiscal year end..any new plans start from that date as Imsure you are aware
John Montgomery
Reply to Ralph Skavinsky
So this doesn't answer the question, has Higgs not had the opportunity six times already in that case?
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
This is the same spin all day
William Murdoch
If only The Official Opposition would have been more battle hardened.
David Amos
Reply to William Murdoch If is a very big word
William Murdoch
Reply to David Amos
That depends on what the meaning of is, is
David Amos
Reply to William Murdoch If brings Rudyard Kipling to my mind
William Murdoch
Reply to David Amos
Actually Bill Clinton during testimony.Max Ruby
Reply to David Amos
More like Animal Farm
Albert Calleros
Pressing local issues that affect the daily lives of New Brunswickers ought to be the primary focus of upcoming provincial parliamentary election.
John Montgomery
Reply to Albert Calleros
So... Health care.
William Murdoch
Reply to John Montgomery
Crumbling infrastructure? You know, I feel that I haven't read crumbling infrastructure enough in this comment section.
David Amos
Reply to William Murdoch
I saved what was said about it the other night
William Murdoch
Reply to David Amos
Good.
Pressing local issues that affect the daily lives of New Brunswickers ought to be the primary focus of upcoming provincial parliamentary election.
John Montgomery
Reply to Albert Calleros
So... Health care.
William Murdoch
Reply to John Montgomery
Crumbling infrastructure? You know, I feel that I haven't read crumbling infrastructure enough in this comment section.
David Amos
Reply to William Murdoch
I saved what was said about it the other night
William Murdoch
Reply to David Amos
Good.
John Montgomery
The most telling thing is when i ask anyone how Higgs has made life better in NB today, there is only deflections and excuses.
Bill Hanley
Reply to John Montgomery
He eliminated the deficit and reduced the provincial debt.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
So you say
John Montgomery
Reply to Bill Hanley
So you didn't answer my question. How has this made life better for new brunswickers in the last six years? Without improvements to show for it, that's just a number on paper.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
He answered you
John Montgomery
Reply to David Amos
I didn't see the answer. Paid debt doesn't automatically make lives better. Only if you spend the money you saved on lives do you make lives better.
Bill Hanley
Reply to John Montgomery
It is reducing the servicing costs of the debt which frees up money for other things like healthcare and education.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
You have yet to answer my simple question
John Montgomery
Reply to Bill Hanley
Ok so where has that money been spent and what are the results? Less wait for healthcare? More staff? More teachers? More schools? Students performing better? Anything to show for it?
John Montgomery
Reply to David Amos
The question was very off topic.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
I don't see your name on a candidate list nor have I ever
John Montgomery
Reply to David Amos
Again, off topic.
William Murdoch
Why hasn't The Premier concentrated on forcing people to enter The Health Care Field.
Greg Miller
Reply to William Murdoch
"forcing people" -- and just how do you do that?
John Montgomery
Reply to William Murdoch
Why hasn't he worked to make conditions better for health care workers?
William Murdoch
Reply to Greg Miller
I read here that some want people forced into care. Into care where there is no facilities and of course therefor no beds. I suggest that if The Premier would have spent more time forcing people into Health Care Rolls those then forced into care will have people to see them.
William Murdoch
Reply to John Montgomery
I know what a push poll question is. Do you?
Jake Newman
Reply to John Montgomery
let me guess, just keep throwing more money to them...it'll never end and there is only so much tax payer money to go around.
John Montgomery
Reply to William Murdoch
Yes and they specifically refer to polling questions. This isnt a poll.
William Murdoch
Reply to John Montgomery
I now know that you have no understanding of what push poll questions are.
John Montgomery
Reply to William Murdoch
They are questions in a poll designed to promote an agenda rather than collect information in an unbiased way.
William Murdoch
Reply to John Montgomery
Here is a push poll question:
"Why hasn't [The Premier of NB] worked to make conditions better for health care workers?"
You lead with what you believe. Some will not care about your opinion and therefore would refuse to answer your leading question. Perhaps you alone think that The Premier has not worked to make conditions better for health care workers.
John Montgomery
Reply to William Murdoch
Well this is a public forum. Some people answer and some don't, but the general assumption is that if the answer is clear there will be many people who could answer and eventually one will.
You are just attempting to gaslight the conversation by applying a term that doesn't even apply to an open forum.
William Murdoch
Reply to John Montgomery
I agree it usually doesn't show up in forums anymore. If you branched out and perhaps away from The Mother Corp you would learn that posting up of a push poll question ended decades ago, But not for some - those that have an opinion that they think that everyone else has too.
John Montgomery
Reply to William Murdoch
Yeah i no longer know what you are even talking about. Only conspiracy theorists say things like "mother Corp"
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
Here is a simple question for you
How many times did I run for public office thus far?
William Murdoch
Reply to John Montgomery
Only conspiracy theorists say things like "The Mother Corp".
Of course everyone according you agrees with you.
William Murdoch
Reply to David Amos
Five or six for sure.
David Amos
Reply to William Murdoch
Seven and soon to be eight
William Murdoch
Reply to David Amos
Go for it. And as you might have noted other commenters say so much. I'm so old I doubt that I could help.
John Montgomery
The influx of foreign workers wouldn't be a
problem if their wages along with all Canadians wages were enough to
contribute enough taxes to support their families. The problem is not
foreigners
Max Ruby
Reply to John Montgomery
The problem is high taxes. Taxes are the largest
household expense for families in Canada. "It's not only income taxes.
It's also payroll taxes, sales taxes, fuel taxes when you're filling up
at the pump. Property taxes as well," said Jake Fuss, fiscal studies
director with Fraser Institute. AND New Brunswick pays the HIGHEST
PROPERTY TAXES IN CANADA on top.
https://www.nesto.ca/mortgage-basics/property-taxes-by-province-in-canada-highest-to-lowest/
John Montgomery
Reply to Max Ruby
Taxes only have to go up if wages don't. David Amos
Reply to Max RubyDo you recall why I ran for a seat in Parliament 20 years ago?
Max Ruby
Reply to David Amos Property tax? I'll vote for you. Heck I'll help you :)
Max Ruby
Reply to John Montgomery
The higher the population growth the easier the government can borrow money.
This bulletin shows that deficit spending and government debt come at a substantial cost to Canadians. In aggregate, the provinces and federal government are expected to spend $81.8 billion on interest payments in 2023/24. Debt servicing charges in 2023/24 is nearly what the government expects to spend on the Canada Health Transfer and significantly more than it expects to spend on childcare benefits.
Federal and Provincial Debt-Interest Costs for
Canadians, 2024 Edition
John Montgomery
Reply to Max Ruby
So where are the benefits from all the debt Higgs paid?
John Montgomery
Reply to Max Ruby
To clarify, i don't care if things get better
by spending money directly or by the money that comes from reduced
maintenance payments. But if nothing is getting better by doing what
you are doing, then continuing the same thing is just throwing good
money after bad. MR Cain
Reply to Max Ruby
Both the Greens and Liberals have plans to straighten out the property tax issue; Higgs needs the revenue to cover the HST cut.
BRIAN SAUNDERS
Reply to John Montgomery
Only if you have a provincial government paying
attention and willing to spend more in areas of need like the health
care system.
Douglas James
And there we see Higgs touting lowering the HST
by 2 cents on the dollar. His priority is not healthcare, it is simply
getting elected and he seems to truly believe he can 'buy votes' by
telling people they'll save $20 if they spend $1,000. You can get deals
far better than that on pretty much anything you buy these days. And
yes, of course, I understand that the savings are on anything and
everything. In fact, he claims that if we spend $50,000 ( what he seems
to think the 'average' New Brunswicker has to spend in the course of a
year, we'll save $950. He believes people are that gullible?
David Amos
Reply to Douglas James
Higgy knows his people are that gullible
David Amos
Reply to Douglas James
Oh MY My You can say it but I cannot agree Go Figure
Max Ruby
Reply to Douglas James
His HST 2 cents won't do anything for anyone
but big spenders. Property tax is the big elephant that no party will
touch and it effects everyone.
Shawn Tabor
Increase the taxes, by 20-25%, who cares
anymore. Its all nothing but B/S. How about a politicians talk about
lowering taxes. Highest inflation in the country. Yup our government is
one efficient machine. It does not matter folks who is in power. Blue or
Red, they are just repeating the same things, trying to come out with a
different outcome. Welcome to NB, the place to be, where some folks and
families get wealthy on the backs of taxpayers. History is the proof.
Check it out for yourself. Trust none of them. Taxes and death yee haa
David Amos
Reply to Shawn Tabor Guess who is gonna run against Higgy
Shawn Tabor
Reply to David Amos
You, i am assuming. I know that Bruce Northrup
is. Sadly nothing will change, except higher taxes and cost of living.
Again taxes and death, yee haa. Its now or has been out of control for
years. John Montgomery
Reply to Shawn Tabor
If taxes are too high, look at why your employer doesn't pay you enough to support your place in society.
Shawn Tabor
Reply to Shawn Tabor
Its out of control now. Oh well who cares right. You can always trust your Politicians. Its all good.
Max Ruby
Reply to John Montgomery
Ask your employer how much tax they have to pay. I give
you a sample: Tim Hortons 1166 Mountain Rd, Moncton. Just the
property tax is - $49,910.22 The property is assessed at $1,177,600.
10 years ago it was assessed at $527,500.
No wonder employers begging for Temporary Foreign Workers eh?
http://propertize.ca/en/results/location/63460?civic=1166&page=8John Montgomery
Reply to Max Ruby
Those numbers are entirely out of context
without knowing what the profit of the location is and what percentage
is spent on labor.
Max Ruby
Reply to John Montgomery Employer has to pay property tax whether he makes a profit or not. NB has tax court for unpaid property taxes.
John Montgomery
Reply to Max Ruby
But you are saying it is an unfair hardship on
the employee. Without knowing what the profit is, how do you know?
It's just a number. If that site makes 10 million a year then that tax
is a drop in the bucket.
John Montgomery
Reply to John Montgomery
Sorry i mean the employer.
Max Ruby
More pending doesn't solve the problem. Spending on
public schools in the province is well above the national average on a
per-student basis, $15,000 per student was spent in New Brunswick public
schools in 2017/18 (the latest year of comparable data) , the
second-highest spending level in Canada.
New Brunswick’s student performance ranks among the worst in Canada, the province ranks last in Canada in reading, second-last in science and fourth-last in math.
David Amos
Reply to Max Ruby
Tragic
Reply to Max Ruby
Correct - money is not the answer in its entirety.
Shawn Tabor
Reply to Max Ruby
Efficiency NB the place to be. You can’t make
this stuff up. Wonder who is about to get wealthier on tax dollars. Stay
tuned you will know or understand.
Matt Adams
Reply to Max Ruby
sadly much of the voting public is not intelligent enough to realize that more $ does not fix the problem.
Ron parker
Reply to Shawn Tabor
is that the Blaney thing?
Ron parker
Reply to Matt Adams
Hi Matt, sadly much of the voting public fall for and forget all the promises made and broken by all parties.
Shawn Tabor
Reply to Ron parker
Its all of it, oh well increase taxes, nobody
will mind. Its all good. Trust your leaders. You can take it to the
honest bankers. Just have faith, it will fix it self LOL. If your
stressed out trust the Lawyers. Its all good.
John Montgomery
Reply to Max Ruby
True, you also need a leader that knows what to do with the money. That is what we are trying to accomplish with the election.
Ron parker
Reply to Shawn Tabor
George Carlin nailed it.
Sean Adams
Reply to Ron parker
I miss George...you gotta know he'd have a
thing or three to say about the nonstop political poopshow we find
ourselves living in, both here and Stateside...
John Montgomery
Reply to Sean Adams
He ranted.a lot while helping himself only.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery His rants were true and he helped a lot of
folks to think about how to make a change with their votes Hence he is
fondly remembered much to your chagrin obviously
John Montgomery
Reply to David AmosThat is also why people believe in
disinformation. Because having your beliefs confirmed by another raises
the dopamine in the body almost as much as sex, to the point that it
overrides the will to find the truth. It's a bad human instinct, that's
all I'm saying.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
IMHO You are spinning disinformation for rather obvious reasons
Daniel Henwell
Hard to believe opponents could criticize the
premier for paying back 2 billion in debt. The Red & Green parties
are like a kid with daddy's credit card..... party now pay later &
let the debt pile up.
Ron parker
Reply to Daniel Henwell
Hi Daniel, paying back 2 billion is awesome,
for me the criticism is back in 2018 higgs promised to fix lots of
health care problems and not much has changed like ambulance wait times
for 1 example.
John Montgomery
Reply to Daniel Henwell You don't pay down the mortgage while your own roof is leaking.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery I do
David Amos
Reply to Ron parker
Its a good example
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All Comments
Comment by John Montgomery.
38 min ago
Can anyone even say how Higgs will pay for the HST cut? If it is cutting wasteful spending like he says, then why hasn't he cut it already? If wasteful spending has been happening all this time than he must also admit responsibility for ignoring it this long.
Reply by Ralph Skavinsky.
23 min ago
All governments work with march 31 as their fiscal year end..any new plans start from that date as Imsure you are aware
Reply by John Montgomery.
14 min ago
So this doesn't answer the question, has Higgs not had the opportunity six times already in that case?
Reply by David Amos.
3 min ago
This is the same spin all day
Comment by William Murdoch.
57 min ago
If only The Official Opposition would have been more battle hardened.
Reply by David Amos.
48 min ago
If is a very big word
Reply by William Murdoch.
47 min ago
Reminds me of:
That depends on what the meaning of is, is
Reply by David Amos.
43 min ago
If brings Rudyard Kipling to my mind
Comment by Albert Calleros.
1 hr ago
Pressing local issues that affect the daily lives of New Brunswickers ought to be the primary focus of upcoming provincial parliamentary election.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
So... Health care.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Crumbling infrastructure? You know, I feel that I haven't read crumbling infrastructure enough in this comment section.
Reply by David Amos.
37 min ago
I saved what was said about it the other night
Comment by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
The most telling thing is when i ask anyone how Higgs has made life better in NB today, there is only deflections and excuses.
Comment by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Why hasn't The Premier concentrated on forcing people to enter The Health Care Field.
Reply by Greg Miller.
1 hr ago
"forcing people" -- and just how do you do that?
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Why hasn't he worked to make conditions better for health care workers?
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I read here that some want people forced into care. Into care where there is no facilities and of course therefor no beds. I suggest that if The Premier would have spent more time forcing people into Health Care Rolls those then forced into care will have people to see them.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I know what a push poll question is. Do you?
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
let me guess, just keep throwing more money to them...it'll never end and there is only so much tax payer money to go around.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Yes and they specifically refer to polling questions. This isnt a poll.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I now know that you have no understanding of what push poll questions are.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
They are questions in a poll designed to promote an agenda rather than collect information in an unbiased way.
Reply by William Murdoch.
58 min ago
Here is a push poll question:
"Why hasn't [The Premier of NB] worked to make conditions better for health care workers?"
You lead with what you believe. Some will not care about your opinion and therefore would refuse to answer your leading question. Perhaps you alone think that The Premier has not worked to make conditions better for health care workers.
Reply by John Montgomery.
47 min ago
Well this is a public forum. Some people answer and some don't, but the general assumption is that if the answer is clear there will be many people who could answer and eventually one will.
You are just attempting to gaslight the conversation by applying a term that doesn't even apply to an open forum.
Reply by William Murdoch.
44 min ago
I agree it usually doesn't show up in forums anymore. If you branched out and perhaps away from The Mother Corp you would learn that posting up of a push poll question ended decades ago, But not for some - those that have an opinion that they think that everyone else has too.
Reply by John Montgomery.
42 min ago
Yeah i no longer know what you are even talking about. Only conspiracy theorists say things like "mother Corp"
Reply by David Amos.
34 min ago
Here is a simple question for you
How many times did I run for public office thus far?
Comment by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
Holt will be lucky to win her own riding.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I heard her interview, She has travelled the world - only to pick a Safe Seat when running. Dedication is what it is all about.
Reply by Art McCarthy.
1 hr ago
You and William must be an act. You should take it on the road. You remind me of Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey.
Reply by Ralph Skavinsky.
39 min ago
Yes, so I am told...just watch! Her run for her set is unfolding as we speak.
Comment by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Is it true that Susan Holt's bid was partially funded by Irvings?
Reply by Art McCarthy.
1 hr ago
Possibly. The Irvings fund all parties; it's good for business.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Why then do I only read that The Premier is onside with Irvings and everyone else claiming IRVING BAD. Is Susan Holt not bad until she wins (and she won't wing)
Reply by Art McCarthy.
1 hr ago
The Irvings contribute to all political parties. The difference is they don't own Holt.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I doubt they own anyone. But with your line of thinking I am interested to know if you think that they will own Susan Holt if she wins - and she won't win.
Comment by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
Holt was part of the Gallant government and that didn't turn out very well for anyone.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
How did Higgs leadership benefit anyone?
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
good fiscal management to name one benefit.
Reply by Ralph Skavinsky.
1 hr ago
My coffee friends and others on the street are simply afraid to trust Holt given the mess she as a SeniorAdviser made in advising Gallant et al. Twice bitten twice shy.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
That's a number on paper unless you can point to any difference it has made to the lives of NBers.
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
Higgs HST cut will be a benefit as well.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Not if he needs to make up the difference with property taxes.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
How has your life been made better by it?
Comment by Ralph Skavinsky.
1 hr ago
Interesting to note weve had a great influx of people since 2018 thus putting more pressure on not only health,but education,housing etc. And of course it's not only NB that is struggling to address these issues. Anyone,who thinks differently isn't really paying attention. I actually had the chance to speak with Ernie Steeves and I queried him specifically on health care. He told me he would gladly spend more ...just show me the people who are willing to work in the health field. That's the question and answer every province is saying.
.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
It's his job to ensure more people get trained to work in the health field. Subsidized education, higher pay, better working conditions. He is just passing the buck.
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
so i guess he should force people to go into the health field? Why doesn't the union assist as well?
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
You do what any company does. You make it attractive to work in the health field. You make it worthwhile for people to select it as a career. It is job market 101.
Reply by Art McCarthy.
1 hr ago
He was part of the gov't that cut the 10 seats at MUN medicine, and the 10 seats cut from Dal Physiotherapy and Dal Occupational Therapy. That's 30 HCW's annually that we had a great opportunity to recruit, gone.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Physiotherapy? Better off searching the internet for advice.
Reply by Art McCarthy.
1 hr ago
Glad to see you at least recognize the folly of cutting physicians and OT's.
And if it's between Google and a physiotherapist, I'll go with the physiotherapist. As a competitive athlete in my youth, I found them invaluable.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Yeah and all those aches and pains you incurred in Sport years are now to be fixed by numerous more visits to your care provider. I assure you that the physiotherapy that you had will not and did not erase aging.
I developed Plantar Fasciitis. I asked for the time line to see a physiotherapist. I searched online and settled on a physiotherapist with an accent foreign to me. I fashioned a three inch wooden block and followed her advice. Within one week I was not dreading getting up in the morning. Then I got a call back explaining that it would be around a month to see someone to see if I would be able to see someone else and then that second someone would make an appointment for me to see a physiotherapist. But all is not gloom and doom. I heard a radio spot the other day claiming that if suffering from Plantar Fasciitis they would cure it fast. One two hour session every week for 8 weeks. Physiotherapy has gone rogue - Private.
Comment by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
I love how conservatives think everything is fine because every province has a problem.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
So that is the only people that think that every province has a problem?
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
and the common dominator is PM JT.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Every province has different degrees of problems.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Yet according you the only ones thinking that was are Conservatives.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
I never said such.a thing. I am only concerned about my province and Premier.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Who has no control over provincial health care systems. You could very well say that the common denominator with people who die is that they breathed air. It's nonsense.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
You never said what:
"I love how conservatives think everything is fine because every province has a problem."
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Right. That does not mean it is ok for Higgs to toss his hands up and claim there is nothing he can do.
Reply by Ralph Skavinsky.
1 hr ago
You are saying the other jurisdiction are not having a problem??
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
I have seen BC and MB announce solutions.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Interesting.
Reply by Ralph Skavinsky.
1 hr ago
When and how? Further..and how did it alll work out?
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Admittedly, Danelle smith is trying to fix things too, but so far her changes have only caused confusion.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
No one has a crystal ball, but at least they are trying.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Really. So you think that a half a pack a day is not healthy?
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Huh?
Reply by Ralph Skavinsky.
1 hr ago
As Higgs has done if you've been following the media then you would already know that..
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
10 spots in Maine. Not enough.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Why are we even supporting institutions in the US?
Comment by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
time to fully embrace a two tiered health care system.
Reply by Art McCarthy.
1 hr ago
"How We Do Harm"
- Otis Brawley
Reply by Lynette Browne.
1 hr ago
I am thinking of a hybrid HC system.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
By all means, as long as it doesn't cost more and everyone keeps equal care.
Comment by Jake Newman.
2 hrs ago
HST cut is exactly what is needed. Gonna be great with another Higgs majority.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
No cut needed to feel confident that the sitting Premier will easily win Majority again.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
It will just mean property tax will have to go up all the more.
Reply by Bob Smith.
2 hrs ago
I feel that voters want a change in leadership and so do many Conservatives in NB.
Reply by William Peters.
2 hrs ago
That's just less money in the provincial coffers, which will entice him to play the austerity game even harder. You can always chase a balanced budget when you cut your revenues. This is an election promise, don't forget. Higgs told us politicians needed to stop playing this damaging gift giving game. Funny what fear does to someone's perspective....This is only possible because of inflation which no one should be able to use as a feather in their cap without reproach. We' ll need those revenues later, and they will be quick to go and get that money and more in other places where you are already taxed at an annually increasing rate of 10 percent.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
2 hrs ago
Almost everyone in this string appears to support Mr. Higgs and his approach to health care... they must all have ready access to a family doctor. Good for them. For me and my family, we have been without a family doctor for 6 years. Can we get a refund on the taxes we have paid for health care access over that time but did not receive, please? And why would I believe one word of what Mr. Higgs has to say on health care after the last 6 years of watching him preside over its collapse?
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
how do you account for the health crisis happening in every province? Is that Higgs doing as well?
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
No just in new Brunswick. Health care is provincial.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
Let's see, Conservative governments in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, PEI, NS and NB along with another in Manitoba until recently. Looks to me like they are all reading from the same game plan to demolish public health care in Canada.
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
BC and NFLD are having issues (NDP & Liberal), and if it was so easy to fix why hasn't it now been fixed in Manitoba.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Actually the Ndp in MB have announced many new funded positions for education and training. The ndp have only been in power for months
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
It is not easy to fix but acknowledging that our system has collapsed is the first step toward recovery. And for sure, what we in NB are doing right now is not working. It is time for a change.
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
yes a change is need .....The problem is with the gov't bureaucrats and administrators (the elected officials need to deal with them) but also the workers (docs, nurses, techs, non-medical staff, etc.,) all the unions, College of Physicians & Surgeons, and all the groups that represent some group (including special interest groups), and of course the citizens. Unless all these groups are willing to work together and make major changes to operations, health care will always be in a crisis regardless of how much money is thrown in.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I feel that voters regret having their Liberal Leader for Opposition at a time like this when the election was hers to win.
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Canada has National Housing Crisis, a National Health Care Crisis and yet somehow it is Premier Higgs fault?
How does The PM fit into the crumbling of our social fabric?
Comment by John Dutton.
2 hrs ago
And who knows how to spend the money easily and without any accountability you guessed it Holt and her federal cousins tax and spend is what they are good at. Delivering results not so much.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
No No No. You seem to have omitted BORROW.
They BORROW TAX and SPEND.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
I'm not willing to pay debt at the expense of my own living conditions.
Reply by John Dutton.
2 hrs ago
and you forgot to mention money borrowed needs to be paid back and that is why my paycheck is being clawed more and more in the past few years. But in your defense, you have to have a job and work for the money to experience that.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Me neither. I am convinced that you and I are around the same age. We will have nothing of ever paying for the life we were so blessed to have lived. Let the youngsters pay our debt then pay even more as we age.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
I think there is a happy medium to be stuck.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
So Higgs paid a bunch back... Where are the benefits from that?
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Never. No Going Back. Young people must be required to pay the debt. We, you and me know that, as we have no interest in paying debt. The cost we incurred living well beyond our means for too many years shall be paid for by those just starting out in life..
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Taxpayers paid a bunch back towards the debt. The debt that you and I created as we lived beyond out means. I am still a tax payer yet I wonder about you.
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
.02% increase in GDP. A result of The Prime Minister making the civil service even larger. That should trickle down, eh.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
You don't believe civil servants use that money to pay taxes and support businesses?
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
So being paid with tax money and then being required to give some back - wow the way some people think.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
That's the way taxes work.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
You missed the part about jobs created with taxes, holding positions that sees then give some back?
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Don't see anything wrong with that
Hidden reply.
The avatar of ""
content deactivated
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
So now taxes are marxist? A democratic government must run without taxes?
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Having a belief that taxes should pay for every position based on the thinking that those in those positions when being required to pay some tax money back - yup pure and simple Marxism.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
So you are saying every public employee should be able to live tax free?
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Yeah that's it. Brilliant on your part.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
You lost me. You said civil servants paying taxes is marxist. Does that not imply that civil servants shouldn't pay tax at all?
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Sorry. Yeah that's it.
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
The two percent proposed cut to HST. How much would that be when buying a $70,000 EV?
Comment by James Risdon.
2 hrs ago
There is zero evidence to support the politically-motivated claim made by both the Liberals and the Greens that we need to throw more taxpayer dollars at healthcare.
Premier Blaine Higgs is doing a great job.
If the healthcare woes in New Brunswick were indeed the result of his policies, then we would expect to see other provinces faring much better than we are here. And that's not the case.
The trouble with healthcare is primarily that we have not graduated enough physicians and nurses and are now facing an acute labour shortage despite record-breaking immigration and immigration programs to bring more healthcare workers here.
That's a problem across the entire country. It is not a New Brunswick-caused problem and throwing more money at it won't make physicians and nurses magically appear in our province.
By the way, federal government figures show that New Brunswick already pays its nurses more than does Quebec or Ontario.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
But they are doing better. The people i know in Manitoba can at least go to one of the many walk in clinics and be seen in a couple hours. The people who complain about it
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
Just don't know how bad it is in NB. It takes me two weeks of calling every evening to see a real doctor.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
What other type of Doctor is there besides real?
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
A nurse at Maple.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Nice try. I know for a fact some required prescriptions will only be written out by Doctors. And you know that too.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Yes because maple has one doctor overseeing 20 nurses.
Reply by Gary Webber.
1 hr ago
I just read where Higgs claimed the liberals are copping his health care plan so you might want to retract your statement
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
The Administration Pay Roll is too large.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
Which hospitals, schools, jails, and RCMP stations do you propose closing?
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I would start with Hospitals and head directly to the floor where is not much more than Managers managing Managers.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
So, you want to reduce hospital capacity, eh? Good luck getting elected on that platform.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I am not running for Office. And I did not attack Nurses. Their continued griping has run its course. And Managers managing Managers - how many do you think are needed for that?
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
When Hatfield was Premier Nurses went on a job action slow down
Their Buttons Said:
OVER WORKED
UNDER PAID
Reply by William Peters.
2 hrs ago
If they are needed and we can't hire them they are underpaid. That's what a labor market rationale would suggest. Of course this is why we are seeing our labor force being filled with foreign workers. Everyone would rather be a manager of a worker. The Conservative way is to slash salary, because there is nothing more real than the money it would cost those who have it to pay for what society needs. Those people are not handing it over and will run a candidate to cut taxes (on their rapidly growing wealth) who allegedly deliver us everything we need and want. You see, you should want less exactly as capitalism promises more for evermore.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
The point that I was trying to make is ... Nurses have perfected their griping.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
Please, feel free to attack nurses, the very folks you depend upon when you find yourself in the hospital. Seems like a good stategy.
Comment by Jake Newman.
2 hrs ago
more money isn't the answer. major changes are needed but that is always being stopped by some group....The problem is with the gov't bureaucrats, administrators, the workers (docs, nurses, techs, non-medical staff, etc., all the unions, College of Physicians & Surgeons, and all the groups that represent some group (including special interest groups), and of course the citizens. Unless all these groups are willing to work together and make major changes to operations, health care will always be in a crisis regardless of how much money is thrown in.
Reply by Lynette Browne.
2 hrs ago
The major change needed is a huge paradigm shift in how we deal with HC in this country.
Otherwise, the system will continue to slowly go in circles, down the drain.
Reply by William Peters.
2 hrs ago
It has to be probably funded by capitalists. Capitalism is the best system in the world to make the profits to pay for it. Sadly we have a two party duopoly who promotes austerity for the poor and all out "economic development" of natural resources. What we are paying for is business sector success. Business is only half the private sector, though. The other component is households. It is there you will find a need for healthcare. You are right that we need a paradigm shift in how we tax capital gains, because that is just allowing a free ride to aspiring aristocrats.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
The problem is that capitalism is a terrible caregiver.
Comment by Gary Webber.
2 hrs ago
Don't count on the Higgs government to deliver on any promises, watch what he's not saying like forced detention for people with addiction or higher property taxes .
Reply by Jake Newman.
2 hrs ago
nothing wrong with forced help for folks with addiction. either get help or you on your own.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Where would those you speak of be forced into?
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
Nothing at all wrong with involuntary treatment, except it does not work. Good luck with that.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
Likely a secure hospital/jail.
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
and what has been happening now hasn't worked, just look at the mess in BC.
Comment by Bob Smith.
2 hrs ago
Money alone won't solve the problems with healthcare. Maybe start with solutions that don't involve "kick the can down the road" thinking. Liberals and Conservatives have both done this far too often in NB. We have a large percentage of elderly folks here yet the gov't has shown little desire to build enough nursing homes AND adequately staff them.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
Well, for the last 6 years we have tried starving the health care system of resources and money and today we can see the results as our system collapses. Maybe another approach and more money spent correctly is the way to go after failing with Higgs plan.
Comment by MR Cain.
3 hrs ago
I would like to see all these plans Mr. Higgs has for every problem he has yet to resolve. It took 3 years to convince him there was a housing problem, and he still had to "study" the issue for a year. Health care is being dealt with by the practicioners, longer hours and more patience. Funding is needed to fill positions; reduce casual employment.
Reply by Jake Newman.
2 hrs ago
a national housing crisis, a national health care crisis but somehow it's Higgs fault? The one common dominator is the Federal Liberal Gov't. If Holt and her provincial liberals really cared they would be calling out JT and his gov't.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
None of the problems are Higgs fault, but the fact that NB hasn't had any tangible improvements is.
Reply by MR Cain.
32 min ago
Agreements with all the provinces and feds for housing were made 6 years ago; the premiers did nada. A national strategy was offered by the feds and the premiers intervened and claimed the all had different health priorities. Higgs was asked about adopting national standards for long term care and said we couldn't afford it. The premiers cried for more people and did nothing to invest in the accommodation. If you were better informed you would know all this.
Comment by ralph jacobs.
3 hrs ago
I don't think our health care problem is from lack of money or hospitals. It's lack of qualified people to do the job.
Reply by Art McCarthy.
3 hrs ago
Make you wonder why this gov't funding for seats at MUN Medicine. We had 10 seats there, guaranteed for NB'ers.
Reply by MR Cain.
2 hrs ago
At what level would this be? Nurse specialists, imaging technologists, doctors of various disciplines? Maybe it is politicians sticking their noses in a subject they know little?
Comment by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
The influx of foreign workers wouldn't be a problem if their wages along with all Canadians wages were enough to contribute enough taxes to support their families. The problem is not foreigners
Reply by Max Ruby.
4 hrs ago
The problem is high taxes. Taxes are the largest household expense for families in Canada. "It's not only income taxes. It's also payroll taxes, sales taxes, fuel taxes when you're filling up at the pump. Property taxes as well," said Jake Fuss, fiscal studies director with Fraser Institute. AND New Brunswick pays the HIGHEST PROPERTY TAXES IN CANADA on top.
https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/average-canadian-household-spends-almost-half-its-income-on-taxes-fraser-institute-1.6983370
https://www.nesto.ca/mortgage-basics/property-taxes-by-province-in-canada-highest-to-lowest/
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
Taxes only have to go up if wages don't.
Reply by John Montgomery.
3 hrs ago
If a person makes $100 and the government needs $15 from that then they need 15% tax. If the same people make $150 an hour then the government can leave tax down at 10%>
Reply by David Amos.
3 hrs ago
Do you recall why I ran for a seat in Parliament 20 years ago?
Reply by Max Ruby.
3 hrs ago
Property tax? I'll vote for you. Heck I'll help you :)
Reply by Max Ruby.
3 hrs ago
The higher the population growth the easier the government can borrow money.
This bulletin shows that deficit spending and government debt come at a substantial cost to Canadians. In aggregate, the provinces and federal government are expected to spend $81.8 billion on interest payments in 2023/24. Debt servicing charges in 2023/24 is nearly what the government expects to spend on the Canada Health Transfer and significantly more than it expects to spend on childcare benefits.
Federal and Provincial Debt-Interest Costs for
Canadians, 2024 Edition
Reply by John Montgomery.
3 hrs ago
So where are the benefits from all the debt Higgs paid?
Reply by John Montgomery.
3 hrs ago
To clarify, i don't care if things get better by spending money directly or by the money that comes from reduced maintenance payments. But if nothing is getting better by doing what you are doing, then continuing the same thing is just throwing good money after bad.
Reply by MR Cain.
2 hrs ago
Both the Greens and Liberals have plans to straighten out the property tax issue; Higgs needs the revenue to cover the HST cut.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
Only if you have a provincial government paying attention and willing to spend more in areas of need like the health care system.
Comment by Douglas James.
4 hrs ago
And there we see Higgs touting lowering the HST by 2 cents on the dollar. His priority is not healthcare, it is simply getting elected and he seems to truly believe he can 'buy votes' by telling people they'll save $20 if they spend $1,000. You can get deals far better than that on pretty much anything you buy these days. And yes, of course, I understand that the savings are on anything and everything. In fact, he claims that if we spend $50,000 ( what he seems to think the 'average' New Brunswicker has to spend in the course of a year, we'll save $950. He believes people are that gullible?
Reply by David Amos.
4 hrs ago
Oh MY My You can say it but I cannot agree Go Figure
Reply by Max Ruby.
3 hrs ago
His HST 2 cents won't do anything for anyone but big spenders. Property tax is the big elephant that no party will touch and it effects everyone.
Comment by Marge Timmons.
5 hrs ago
Over 6M Canadians without a family DR. Like housing, the healthcare issues are mainly caused by the our Federal gov't bringing in too many people.
Reply by Bob Smith.
4 hrs ago
Immigration is not the problem with healthcare. Fixing it requires many steps and long term planning.
Reply by Walter Vrbetic.
4 hrs ago
All at the request of the premiers.
In '22 ON's Doug Ford begged Ottawa for more immigrants to help with the shortage of 350k workers, AB claimed to be short 93k and MB 40k.
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
So they should cut all foreign workers and let all but the largest restaurant chains go bankrupt? I don't agree with foreign workers either, but i am fully prepared to eat at home.
Reply by Bob Louie.
1 hr ago
Immigration IS one of the major causes of the doctors shortage. The other is that all provinces have not increased the number of seats in our medical schools.
Comment by Max Ruby.
5 hrs ago
If skyrocketing property taxes is your priority it is not the priority of the 2 main parties, highest property taxes in Canada for years under both of them.
Reply by John Montgomery.
5 hrs ago
Our type of civilization doesn't work without taxes.
Reply by Max Ruby.
5 hrs ago
"Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society", this from the American Supreme Court Justice, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., in a 1927 case.
Government spending was much lower in 1927 compared to now. You are proposing that because one glass of wine has healthful effects, then a dozen drinks must be even better.
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
How much has the wealth gap grown since 1927?
Reply by Max Ruby.
4 hrs ago
Weatlh gap has grown huge under our two main parties. Government policies benefit corporations at the expense of taxpayers, consumers and small business. Government subsidizes them with taxpayer money. Look at the EV battery plant in Windsor Ontario, $15 billion given to them. Correct me if my math is wrong but isn't that approx $300 per man woman and child in Canada?
Comment by Frank Blacklock.
5 hrs ago
These are very specific problems. Canadian provinces should allow private clinics for hip/knee surgeries, MRI and CT scans, and specialist doctors.
Rich older people and business/industry top earners currently go to the USA and other countries for treatments/scans. Why does Canada not open up private clinics and keep this money in our economy?
Reply by John Montgomery.
5 hrs ago
Because it has *already* made the wait longer for other things in our province.
Reply by John Montgomery.
5 hrs ago
Because it has *already* made the wait longer for other things in our province.
Reply by Walter Vrbetic.
4 hrs ago
Where would the private clinic Drs and nurses come from?
Reply by Frank Blacklock.
4 hrs ago
More high quality doctors and nurses would stay in the country, and move into the country.
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
But that would require us all to pay more anyway. Why not just pay that amount to public workers?
Reply by MR Cain.
2 hrs ago
Fairy dust.
Reply by Walter Vrbetic.
2 hrs ago
Biggest issue for those moving into the country, even for those who arre CDN citizens but trained elsewhere is getting accreditation... almost as if provinces and colleges of physicians and surgeons are impeding them.
Reply by Frank Blacklock.
2 hrs ago
Rich old people and corporation owners will just go out of the country to get better service anyways. Why not give them the option to pay for it here, and free up healthcare services for those who can’t afford to pay for it? Taxes will be collected for healthcare regardless.
Comment by John Montgomery.
6 hrs ago
People work for companies where the owners drive Ferraris and they wonder why they can't afford any more taxes.
Reply by Frank Blacklock.
6 hrs ago
Only beaters here
Reply by Max Ruby.
5 hrs ago
Taxes? Provincial net job growth in the government sector has exceeded the private sector in all 10 provinces. New Brunswick: Feb 2020 - June 2023 Government sector increased 18.4% and private sector went DOWN 0.6%.
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/file/public-and-private-sector-job-growth-in-provinces-during-covid-19-era-infographic-atlcjpg
Reply by John Montgomery.
5 hrs ago
What does that have to do with anything? Public sector jobs increase as one method to help citizens feed their families.
Reply by Max Ruby.
5 hrs ago
Higher taxes are needed to pay the salary, pensions and benefits of public sector growth. We are all paying higher taxes while the non-government job pool is shrinking and many don't get pensions and benefits. Get it?
Reply by John Montgomery.
5 hrs ago
Those people go out and shop for things, thus creating a feedback loop that returns money to the government as well as supporting more citizens. Money helps people when it moves around.
Reply by Max Ruby.
4 hrs ago
According to you those people go shop for things from an employer who drives a Ferrari, to afford that vehicle he must employ TFWs who send the money outside Canada to support their family overseas. It not a feedback loop: Canada receives approximately 5% of the total $583 billion sent by migrants worldwide each year.
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
I never said i agree with foreign workers. Ok fact i believe that is what is keeping wages very low. So low that people here can't afford taxes.
Reply by Max Ruby.
4 hrs ago
Taxes are so high employers bring in foreign workers. Taxes is what is keeping wages low. Root cause.
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
So you think Tim Hortons is on the verge of going bankrupt?
Comment by james bolt.
7 hrs ago
If health care is your priority vote NDP
Reply by William Peters.
7 hrs ago
Are they still a party?
Reply by Graeme Scott.
6 hrs ago
Who?
Comment by Lorraine Morgan.
7 hrs ago
Higgs has set NB back 30 years. Time to let the moths out of Higgs' wallet.
Reply by Jerry Dion.
7 hrs ago
LOL the system has been crumbling way before Higgs
Reply by William Peters.
7 hrs ago
To the degree that we have had austerity promoting Conservatives elected Provincially and Federally this is true. Some people are comfortable with public healthcare failing you, because that opens the door to for-profit healthcare. Less on their plates means more surpluses which they can allege is poof they are great stewards of our social institutions. Don't trade Healthcare for meaningless surpluses that merely represent you paying too many taxes for what you are getting.
Reply by John Montgomery.
7 hrs ago
But it crumbled more under higgs. He also doubled down on his responsibility by replacing the board who also did nothing.
Reply by Jerry Dion.
7 hrs ago
Both the PCs and the liberals have failed our healthcare system over the years with inadequate funding and promises that they have never kept and they are both trying to tell us they can fix it. People need to stop buying into and start voting in a different party.
Reply by Art McCarthy.
6 hrs ago
It's not apples-to-apples. We've fallen off a precipice with this gov't. We now have ~190,000 residents without primary care, and the clinics can't keep up. And 4 years ago the Higgs gov't cut the 10 seats we funded at MUN medical, so we've reduced the potential crop of local physicians to fill already thinned ranks (gasoline, meet fire).
And in the years since this gov't cut the funding for 10 seats at Dal Physiotherapy and for the 10 seats at Dal Occupational Therapy.
Reply by Jerry Dion.
6 hrs ago
6 MILLION Canadians without a family doctor right across this country, there isn't a single political party who could have prepared for Mass immigration to this country over the years. This isn't a post to defend HIGGS, if people truly want change then its time to vote for change. Stop electing the same 2 parties and send a clear message to both libs and PCs we arent happy how things have been done for the last 20 years
Reply by Max Ruby.
6 hrs ago
Paul Martin cut federal health (and other) transfers by 40 per cent and repealed laws that forced provinces to spend transfers on health and education. He refused to enforce the Canada Health Act’s banning of private care.
Paul Martin completely eliminated the social housing budget in 1995, making Canada the only developed country without such a program.
Reply by JOhn D Bond.
6 hrs ago
Two questions.
Who has responsibilitiey for the deliverly of health care from a constitutional perspective?
Who is running for election in 2024?
Reply by Max Ruby.
5 hrs ago
The Feds have the responsibilty for health transfers and the L Feds cut the amount and removed the oversight on how the provinces spend the money. The PCs, Libs, Greens, and NDP are running for NB election in 2024. Two of em have already had a kick at the can too many times, that is why we have the highest greedy property taxes in Canada! Next...
Reply by JOhn D Bond.
4 hrs ago
Convienent exclusion of salient details Max, why didn't the provinces use the tax transfer points they were granted when that happened?
As for property taxes you are incorrec, not the highest in the country
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
Though it soon will be because Higgs choose to pay debt. And with the proposed cut to HST he will likely need to make it up in property tax. He certainly isn't cutting expenses by that amount.
Reply by Max Ruby.
4 hrs ago
Quebec property tax is relatively low as well compared to New Brunswick which has the highest property taxes in Canada. Property tax rate comparison shows that property taxes in some provinces are more than 2 times that in other provinces.
https://www.nesto.ca/mortgage-basics/property-taxes-by-province-in-canada-highest-to-lowest/
Reply by Art McCarthy.
3 hrs ago
That would be true if the shortfall was only the increased population, which it isn't. Stop using immigration as a bogeyman.
Comment by Lorraine Morgan.
7 hrs ago
Pay them more! Why would any doctor or nurse want to practice in a province where they are paid less than anywhere else in Canada, the climate sucks, the services suck, and they are over-worked before they even get here. We need to pay them MORE than other provinces. We then may have a hope of having enough doctors and nurses.
Comment by John Montgomery.
8 hrs ago
Don't people realize when Higgs says, "you need more than money to fix these problems" it basically implies he wouldn't know what to do with it. Let's elect a leader that does, for our own sakes.
Reply by Danyello Stearto.
7 hrs ago
the idea that there are issues of management is one that "most people" can't really speak on, outside of government. without a credible alternative posited, a comment like this is overbearingly cynical.
this said, I don't have an answer to this either, there are a lot of variables and an enormous amount of information I do not have here. I'm just saying, 'issues of management' are well within the realm of "you need more than money to fix these problems" because the levels of management and the 'dual' systems (as per bilingualism) are certainly 'spicy' topics, when you get down to rational acting.
Reply by William Peters.
7 hrs ago
That's a good point. His focus on bottom lines and scriptures is bad news for everyone, because there is an easy rationale in thinking you can do nothing and allow the good Lord to provide for those he cherishes most (aka, billionaires).
Reply by John Montgomery.
6 hrs ago
Nothing but deflection.
Comment by Jack Bell.
8 hrs ago
"Liberals, Greens prescribe major infusions of money to cure health troubles"
Why fix the actual problems by bringing in efficiencies by getting rid of red tape and high paid bureaucrats, giving healthcare workers a better work life balance, stop adding stress to the system by bringing in more and more people, and increase our healthcare worker pool by lessening language requirements, when we can throw a never-ending supply of taxpayer money at the problem.
Reply by John Montgomery.
8 hrs ago
The libs are saying they will do that. Higgs is saying he doesn't know what to do.
Reply by William Peters.
7 hrs ago
The penny pinchers are those who demand to know where every cent goes in great detail. Mind the pennies and the dollars will look after themselves ideology...If you think the Cons are not entirely for red tape guess again. More time is spent identifying things to cut than to make that effort work towards providing services. As anyone who is a manager in the public service role is under pressure to be make these politicians look good on paper.
Comment by Ben DeKraker.
9 hrs ago
Bye bye Blaine. And good riddance.
Reply by William Peters.
6 hrs ago
I'm getting that even from people who are die-hard Cons. One canvasser just told me that the number one issue/irritant that she sees on people's radar right now isn't healthcare; it's immigration. The fact that Higgs is touting his increased population numbers while service levels have cratered is making some people's blood boil. The shortages of teachers and the demographic make-up of classes is currently fresh on the mind of a lot of people.
Comment by Charles Neal.
9 hrs ago
Encourage and support the young adults who want to enter the medical field with free tuition and their commitment to practice in the province for five years. Think outside the box. It's the people we need, as simple as that. The old supply and demand model from economics.
Reply by William Peters.
6 hrs ago
That's not very realistic, and economists are wrong in this assessment. You can never pay people enough to be in a toxic situation. You'll financially encourage some, but they won't stick. Money isn't nearly the carrot that people think it is. You have to offer the prospects of a decent life which allows good mental health outcomes. It's going to be hard to staff-up to those levels now that we have allowed the problem (a hole) to become so deep. "Come and help us run on fumes" has limited appeal. On top of that the Politicians ae only too quick to blame the staff publicly at the sign of problems.
Reply by John Montgomery.
6 hrs ago
So then the economists would say, pay them more to alleviate the short term problems and then work to make the conditions better. Making working conditions less toxic would totally be part of the economic solution.
Reply by Charles Neal.
5 hrs ago
you are giving them retention money at the beginning not at the end.
Comment by Frank Blacklock.
9 hrs ago
Healthcare was damaged by too many people at one time, and healthcare mandates.
Reply by Shawn Tabor.
8 hrs ago
You understand. Good comment
Comment by Jimmy Cochrane.
9 hrs ago
Cash to cure healthcare problems? You're kidding right?
Reply by Shawn Tabor.
8 hrs ago
Yes, isn’t it ludicrous.
Reply by John Montgomery.
8 hrs ago
Do you know any other way to attract workers,?
Reply by William Peters.
6 hrs ago
Last time I looked people still needed to be paid. No one is providing healthcare out of a religious calling these days. The nunneries and monasteries have been replaced by human resources in a capitalist model where capitalism's profits are required to pay for it.
Reply by John Montgomery.
6 hrs ago
Furthermore, there has been 12% inflation over the last two years, so they need to be paid 12% more just to remain the same. Paying them more means more than 12% over what they were paid in 2019.
Comment by David Amos.
10 hrs ago
Anyone notice anything missing?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/cbc-election-debate-1.7333022
Reply by Ed Franks.
6 hrs ago
There is no NDP candidate. Maybe 3 lefts don’t make it right.
Comment by Shawn Tabor.
10 hrs ago
Increase the taxes, by 20-25%, who cares anymore. Its all nothing but B/S. How about a politicians talk about lowering taxes. Highest inflation in the country. Yup our government is one efficient machine. It does not matter folks who is in power. Blue or Red, they are just repeating the same things, trying to come out with a different outcome. Welcome to NB, the place to be, where some folks and families get wealthy on the backs of taxpayers. History is the proof. Check it out for yourself. Trust none of them. Taxes and death yee haa
Reply by David Amos.
10 hrs ago
Guess who is gonna run against Higgy
Reply by Shawn Tabor.
9 hrs ago
You, i am assuming. I know that Bruce Northrup is. Sadly nothing will change, except higher taxes and cost of living. Again taxes and death, yee haa. Its now or has been out of control for years.
Reply by John Montgomery.
7 hrs ago
If taxes are too high, look at why your employer doesn't pay you enough to support your place in society.
Reply by Shawn Tabor.
6 hrs ago
Its out of control now. Oh well who cares right. You can always trust your Politicians. Its all good.
Reply by Max Ruby.
5 hrs ago
Ask your employer how much tax they have to pay. I give you a sample: Tim Hortons 1166 Mountain Rd, Moncton. Just the property tax is - $49,910.22 The property is assessed at $1,177,600. 10 years ago it was assessed at $527,500.
No wonder employers begging for Temporary Foreign Workers eh?
http://propertize.ca/en/results/location/63460?civic=1166&page=8
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
Those numbers are entirely out of context without knowing what the profit of the location is and what percentage is spent on labor.
Reply by Max Ruby.
4 hrs ago
Employer has to pay property tax whether he makes a profit or not. NB has tax court for unpaid property taxes.
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
But you are saying it is an unfair hardship on the employee. Without knowing what the profit is, how do you know? It's just a number. If that site makes 10 million a year then that tax is a drop in the bucket.
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
Sorry i mean the employer.
Comment by David Amos.
11 hrs ago
"PCs have proposed their own $1.5-billion plan over four years to cut the HST by two percentage points but Higgs says that will be affordable by managing government costs, including in health care."
Yea Right
Comment by Max Ruby.
11 hrs ago
More pending doesn't solve the problem. Spending on public schools in the province is well above the national average on a per-student basis, $15,000 per student was spent in New Brunswick public schools in 2017/18 (the latest year of comparable data) , the second-highest spending level in Canada.
New Brunswick’s student performance ranks among the worst in Canada, the province ranks last in Canada in reading, second-last in science and fourth-last in math.
Reply by David Amos.
11 hrs ago
Tragic
Reply by Errol Willis.
11 hrs ago
Correct - money is not the answer in its entirety.
Reply by Shawn Tabor.
10 hrs ago
Efficiency NB the place to be. You can’t make this stuff up. Wonder who is about to get wealthier on tax dollars. Stay tuned you will know or understand.
Reply by Matt Adams.
10 hrs ago
sadly much of the voting public is not intelligent enough to realize that more $ does not fix the problem.
Reply by Ron parker.
10 hrs ago
is that the Blaney thing?
Reply by Ron parker.
10 hrs ago
Hi Matt, sadly much of the voting public fall for and forget all the promises made and broken by all parties.
Reply by Shawn Tabor.
8 hrs ago
Its all of it, oh well increase taxes, nobody will mind. Its all good. Trust your leaders. You can take it to the honest bankers. Just have faith, it will fix it self LOL. If your stressed out trust the Lawyers. Its all good.
Reply by John Montgomery.
8 hrs ago
True, you also need a leader that knows what to do with the money. That is what we are trying to accomplish with the election.
Reply by Ron parker.
7 hrs ago
George Carlin nailed it.
Reply by Sean Adams.
7 hrs ago
I miss George...you gotta know he'd have a thing or three to say about the nonstop political poopshow we find ourselves living in, both here and Stateside...
Reply by John Montgomery.
6 hrs ago
He ranted.a lot while helping himself only.
Reply by David Amos.
4 hrs ago
His rants were true and he helped a lot of folks to think about how to make a change with their votes Hence he is fondly remembered much to your chagrin obviously
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
That is also why people believe in disinformation. Because having your beliefs confirmed by another raises the dopamine in the body almost as much as sex, to the point that it overrides the will to find the truth. It's a bad human instinct, that's all I'm saying.
Comment by Errol Willis.
11 hrs ago
We should just look at some kind of privatization of health care while still protecting those vulnerable and lower income families. The model we have now worked well in the 60s and 70s, but clinging to it and throwing endless money at it will not fix it.
Holt wants to just throw money at it. Higgs is probably a little too extreme on the other end. Somewhere in the middle is the answer.
Reply by Denis Van Humbeck.
11 hrs ago
Privatizing is charging very high prices.
Reply by Denis Van Humbeck.
11 hrs ago
Medical equipment and more doctors and healthcare workers cost money . Private clinics do not work for free. And only wealthy politicians can afford to use those private clinics.
Reply by Mehare Mahalatti.
11 hrs ago
tax payors money should not be supporting big business health care
Reply by Errol Willis.
11 hrs ago
Not necessarily. It doesn't have to be the US style where people go bankrupt from healthcare.
Reply by Errol Willis.
11 hrs ago
As soon as you say "only wealthy politicians", you've lost the argument.
Times have changed, people are living longer, we have doubled the population and still think what we had will work. There are other options out there, if we are willing to look.
Reply by Errol Willis.
11 hrs ago
I think you'll find that it already does.
Reply by Art McCarthy.
6 hrs ago
That's a hard "No". Privatization requires patients to become consumers, and there is no scenario when your health ( and perhaps your life) is on the line that you can expect that consumer to make a rational choice (purchase).
If you want to know more about this, reference "How We Do Harm" by Otis Brawley
Comment by Denis Van Humbeck.
11 hrs ago
We should be like Norway. We should nationalize our natural resources like oil, mining, logging and the auto sector.
Reply by Matt Adams.
10 hrs ago
because government is so effective at running a business - look at NB Power and ANBL!
Reply by John Montgomery.
5 hrs ago
Well that depends on who you vote for. Clearly Higgs has shown that he doesn't know how.
Comment by Denis Van Humbeck.
11 hrs ago
The feds could be giving each province billions of dollars each year for healthcare.
Reply by Mathieu Laperriere.
11 hrs ago
They do that already.
Reply by Mehare Mahalatti.
11 hrs ago
and some premiers redirect a percentage of that money to other pet projects and for profit private health care
Reply by Denis Van Humbeck.
11 hrs ago
We need laws to any politician who does that should go to jail.
Reply by Mathieu Laperriere.
11 hrs ago
Yup, conservative premiers are good at that.
Reply by Lorraine Morgan.
7 hrs ago
The Feds have offered Higgs millions of dollars for health care, but he has refused it, as the deal meant matching dollar for dollar. This guy has set NB back 30 years. Time to let the moths out of Higgs' wallet.
Comment by Denis Van Humbeck.
11 hrs ago
Its time that healthcare become federal and all money come from the federal government. Feds could stop giving our money to foreign countries at war.
Comment by Eugene Peabody.
11 hrs ago
Being able to access a doctor is a big issue for me . Myself and almost half of my extended family have lost our family doctor in the last couple of years.
Comment by Mehare Mahalatti.
11 hrs ago
" Higgs in the 2018 election he pledged to cut wait times for knee and hip replacements in New Brunswick in half"
"It was a prescription that appears not to have worked. Five years later, waits for those procedures have grown longer."
>only one of many...ffails
Comment by JOhn D Bond.
11 hrs ago
This issue has grown much worse during Higgs's time in government. Yes we had a pandemic. But also we received hundreds of millions in support yearly from the Feds that on the surface found its way to the budget surpluses instead of health care spending.
While deficit reduction and debt management is important. It is not as important as the ability of people to get quality health care on a quick and efficient basis, to have access to a family doctor. To not have to choose between rent or food.
From a fiscal management perspective, Higgs has shown that he is a capable fiscal manager.
From a premier of the province perspective where the social well being of the residents in the province is the primary responsibility he is a failure.
The upcoming vote will allow NBers the ability to address what their priorities are .
Comment by Daniel Henwell.
12 hrs ago
Hard to believe opponents could criticize the premier for paying back 2 billion in debt. The Red & Green parties are like a kid with daddy's credit card..... party now pay later & let the debt pile up.
Reply by Ron parker.
11 hrs ago
Hi Daniel, paying back 2 billion is awesome, for me the criticism is back in 2018 higgs promised to fix lots of health care problems and not much has changed like ambulance wait times for 1 example.
Reply by John Montgomery.
6 hrs ago
You don't pay down the mortgage while your own roof is leaking.
Reply by David Amos.
16 min ago
I do
Reply by David Amos.
15 min ago
Its a good example
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/ambulance-delays-new-brunswick-continuing-problem-1.7335091
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All Comments
Comment by John Montgomery.
38 min ago
Can anyone even say how Higgs will pay for the HST cut? If it is cutting wasteful spending like he says, then why hasn't he cut it already? If wasteful spending has been happening all this time than he must also admit responsibility for ignoring it this long.
Reply by Ralph Skavinsky.
23 min ago
All governments work with march 31 as their fiscal year end..any new plans start from that date as Imsure you are aware
Reply by John Montgomery.
14 min ago
So this doesn't answer the question, has Higgs not had the opportunity six times already in that case?
Reply by David Amos.
3 min ago
This is the same spin all day
Comment by William Murdoch.
57 min ago
If only The Official Opposition would have been more battle hardened.
Reply by David Amos.
48 min ago
If is a very big word
Reply by William Murdoch.
47 min ago
Reminds me of:
That depends on what the meaning of is, is
Reply by David Amos.
43 min ago
If brings Rudyard Kipling to my mind
Comment by Albert Calleros.
1 hr ago
Pressing local issues that affect the daily lives of New Brunswickers ought to be the primary focus of upcoming provincial parliamentary election.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
So... Health care.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Crumbling infrastructure? You know, I feel that I haven't read crumbling infrastructure enough in this comment section.
Reply by David Amos.
37 min ago
I saved what was said about it the other night
Comment by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
The most telling thing is when i ask anyone how Higgs has made life better in NB today, there is only deflections and excuses.
Comment by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Why hasn't The Premier concentrated on forcing people to enter The Health Care Field.
Reply by Greg Miller.
1 hr ago
"forcing people" -- and just how do you do that?
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Why hasn't he worked to make conditions better for health care workers?
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I read here that some want people forced into care. Into care where there is no facilities and of course therefor no beds. I suggest that if The Premier would have spent more time forcing people into Health Care Rolls those then forced into care will have people to see them.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I know what a push poll question is. Do you?
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
let me guess, just keep throwing more money to them...it'll never end and there is only so much tax payer money to go around.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Yes and they specifically refer to polling questions. This isnt a poll.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I now know that you have no understanding of what push poll questions are.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
They are questions in a poll designed to promote an agenda rather than collect information in an unbiased way.
Reply by William Murdoch.
58 min ago
Here is a push poll question:
"Why hasn't [The Premier of NB] worked to make conditions better for health care workers?"
You lead with what you believe. Some will not care about your opinion and therefore would refuse to answer your leading question. Perhaps you alone think that The Premier has not worked to make conditions better for health care workers.
Reply by John Montgomery.
47 min ago
Well this is a public forum. Some people answer and some don't, but the general assumption is that if the answer is clear there will be many people who could answer and eventually one will.
You are just attempting to gaslight the conversation by applying a term that doesn't even apply to an open forum.
Reply by William Murdoch.
44 min ago
I agree it usually doesn't show up in forums anymore. If you branched out and perhaps away from The Mother Corp you would learn that posting up of a push poll question ended decades ago, But not for some - those that have an opinion that they think that everyone else has too.
Reply by John Montgomery.
42 min ago
Yeah i no longer know what you are even talking about. Only conspiracy theorists say things like "mother Corp"
Reply by David Amos.
34 min ago
Here is a simple question for you
How many times did I run for public office thus far?
Comment by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
Holt will be lucky to win her own riding.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I heard her interview, She has travelled the world - only to pick a Safe Seat when running. Dedication is what it is all about.
Reply by Art McCarthy.
1 hr ago
You and William must be an act. You should take it on the road. You remind me of Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey.
Reply by Ralph Skavinsky.
39 min ago
Yes, so I am told...just watch! Her run for her set is unfolding as we speak.
Comment by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Is it true that Susan Holt's bid was partially funded by Irvings?
Reply by Art McCarthy.
1 hr ago
Possibly. The Irvings fund all parties; it's good for business.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Why then do I only read that The Premier is onside with Irvings and everyone else claiming IRVING BAD. Is Susan Holt not bad until she wins (and she won't wing)
Reply by Art McCarthy.
1 hr ago
The Irvings contribute to all political parties. The difference is they don't own Holt.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I doubt they own anyone. But with your line of thinking I am interested to know if you think that they will own Susan Holt if she wins - and she won't win.
Comment by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
Holt was part of the Gallant government and that didn't turn out very well for anyone.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
How did Higgs leadership benefit anyone?
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
good fiscal management to name one benefit.
Reply by Ralph Skavinsky.
1 hr ago
My coffee friends and others on the street are simply afraid to trust Holt given the mess she as a SeniorAdviser made in advising Gallant et al. Twice bitten twice shy.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
That's a number on paper unless you can point to any difference it has made to the lives of NBers.
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
Higgs HST cut will be a benefit as well.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Not if he needs to make up the difference with property taxes.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
How has your life been made better by it?
Comment by Ralph Skavinsky.
1 hr ago
Interesting to note weve had a great influx of people since 2018 thus putting more pressure on not only health,but education,housing etc. And of course it's not only NB that is struggling to address these issues. Anyone,who thinks differently isn't really paying attention. I actually had the chance to speak with Ernie Steeves and I queried him specifically on health care. He told me he would gladly spend more ...just show me the people who are willing to work in the health field. That's the question and answer every province is saying.
.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
It's his job to ensure more people get trained to work in the health field. Subsidized education, higher pay, better working conditions. He is just passing the buck.
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
so i guess he should force people to go into the health field? Why doesn't the union assist as well?
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
You do what any company does. You make it attractive to work in the health field. You make it worthwhile for people to select it as a career. It is job market 101.
Reply by Art McCarthy.
1 hr ago
He was part of the gov't that cut the 10 seats at MUN medicine, and the 10 seats cut from Dal Physiotherapy and Dal Occupational Therapy. That's 30 HCW's annually that we had a great opportunity to recruit, gone.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Physiotherapy? Better off searching the internet for advice.
Reply by Art McCarthy.
1 hr ago
Glad to see you at least recognize the folly of cutting physicians and OT's.
And if it's between Google and a physiotherapist, I'll go with the physiotherapist. As a competitive athlete in my youth, I found them invaluable.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Yeah and all those aches and pains you incurred in Sport years are now to be fixed by numerous more visits to your care provider. I assure you that the physiotherapy that you had will not and did not erase aging.
I developed Plantar Fasciitis. I asked for the time line to see a physiotherapist. I searched online and settled on a physiotherapist with an accent foreign to me. I fashioned a three inch wooden block and followed her advice. Within one week I was not dreading getting up in the morning. Then I got a call back explaining that it would be around a month to see someone to see if I would be able to see someone else and then that second someone would make an appointment for me to see a physiotherapist. But all is not gloom and doom. I heard a radio spot the other day claiming that if suffering from Plantar Fasciitis they would cure it fast. One two hour session every week for 8 weeks. Physiotherapy has gone rogue - Private.
Comment by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
I love how conservatives think everything is fine because every province has a problem.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
So that is the only people that think that every province has a problem?
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
and the common dominator is PM JT.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Every province has different degrees of problems.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Yet according you the only ones thinking that was are Conservatives.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
I never said such.a thing. I am only concerned about my province and Premier.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Who has no control over provincial health care systems. You could very well say that the common denominator with people who die is that they breathed air. It's nonsense.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
You never said what:
"I love how conservatives think everything is fine because every province has a problem."
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Right. That does not mean it is ok for Higgs to toss his hands up and claim there is nothing he can do.
Reply by Ralph Skavinsky.
1 hr ago
You are saying the other jurisdiction are not having a problem??
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
I have seen BC and MB announce solutions.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Interesting.
Reply by Ralph Skavinsky.
1 hr ago
When and how? Further..and how did it alll work out?
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Admittedly, Danelle smith is trying to fix things too, but so far her changes have only caused confusion.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
No one has a crystal ball, but at least they are trying.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Really. So you think that a half a pack a day is not healthy?
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Huh?
Reply by Ralph Skavinsky.
1 hr ago
As Higgs has done if you've been following the media then you would already know that..
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
10 spots in Maine. Not enough.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Why are we even supporting institutions in the US?
Comment by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
time to fully embrace a two tiered health care system.
Reply by Art McCarthy.
1 hr ago
"How We Do Harm"
- Otis Brawley
Reply by Lynette Browne.
1 hr ago
I am thinking of a hybrid HC system.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
By all means, as long as it doesn't cost more and everyone keeps equal care.
Comment by Jake Newman.
2 hrs ago
HST cut is exactly what is needed. Gonna be great with another Higgs majority.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
No cut needed to feel confident that the sitting Premier will easily win Majority again.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
It will just mean property tax will have to go up all the more.
Reply by Bob Smith.
2 hrs ago
I feel that voters want a change in leadership and so do many Conservatives in NB.
Reply by William Peters.
2 hrs ago
That's just less money in the provincial coffers, which will entice him to play the austerity game even harder. You can always chase a balanced budget when you cut your revenues. This is an election promise, don't forget. Higgs told us politicians needed to stop playing this damaging gift giving game. Funny what fear does to someone's perspective....This is only possible because of inflation which no one should be able to use as a feather in their cap without reproach. We' ll need those revenues later, and they will be quick to go and get that money and more in other places where you are already taxed at an annually increasing rate of 10 percent.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
2 hrs ago
Almost everyone in this string appears to support Mr. Higgs and his approach to health care... they must all have ready access to a family doctor. Good for them. For me and my family, we have been without a family doctor for 6 years. Can we get a refund on the taxes we have paid for health care access over that time but did not receive, please? And why would I believe one word of what Mr. Higgs has to say on health care after the last 6 years of watching him preside over its collapse?
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
how do you account for the health crisis happening in every province? Is that Higgs doing as well?
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
No just in new Brunswick. Health care is provincial.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
Let's see, Conservative governments in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, PEI, NS and NB along with another in Manitoba until recently. Looks to me like they are all reading from the same game plan to demolish public health care in Canada.
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
BC and NFLD are having issues (NDP & Liberal), and if it was so easy to fix why hasn't it now been fixed in Manitoba.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Actually the Ndp in MB have announced many new funded positions for education and training. The ndp have only been in power for months
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
It is not easy to fix but acknowledging that our system has collapsed is the first step toward recovery. And for sure, what we in NB are doing right now is not working. It is time for a change.
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
yes a change is need .....The problem is with the gov't bureaucrats and administrators (the elected officials need to deal with them) but also the workers (docs, nurses, techs, non-medical staff, etc.,) all the unions, College of Physicians & Surgeons, and all the groups that represent some group (including special interest groups), and of course the citizens. Unless all these groups are willing to work together and make major changes to operations, health care will always be in a crisis regardless of how much money is thrown in.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I feel that voters regret having their Liberal Leader for Opposition at a time like this when the election was hers to win.
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Canada has National Housing Crisis, a National Health Care Crisis and yet somehow it is Premier Higgs fault?
How does The PM fit into the crumbling of our social fabric?
Comment by John Dutton.
2 hrs ago
And who knows how to spend the money easily and without any accountability you guessed it Holt and her federal cousins tax and spend is what they are good at. Delivering results not so much.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
No No No. You seem to have omitted BORROW.
They BORROW TAX and SPEND.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
I'm not willing to pay debt at the expense of my own living conditions.
Reply by John Dutton.
2 hrs ago
and you forgot to mention money borrowed needs to be paid back and that is why my paycheck is being clawed more and more in the past few years. But in your defense, you have to have a job and work for the money to experience that.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Me neither. I am convinced that you and I are around the same age. We will have nothing of ever paying for the life we were so blessed to have lived. Let the youngsters pay our debt then pay even more as we age.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
I think there is a happy medium to be stuck.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
So Higgs paid a bunch back... Where are the benefits from that?
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Never. No Going Back. Young people must be required to pay the debt. We, you and me know that, as we have no interest in paying debt. The cost we incurred living well beyond our means for too many years shall be paid for by those just starting out in life..
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Taxpayers paid a bunch back towards the debt. The debt that you and I created as we lived beyond out means. I am still a tax payer yet I wonder about you.
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
.02% increase in GDP. A result of The Prime Minister making the civil service even larger. That should trickle down, eh.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
You don't believe civil servants use that money to pay taxes and support businesses?
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
So being paid with tax money and then being required to give some back - wow the way some people think.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
That's the way taxes work.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
You missed the part about jobs created with taxes, holding positions that sees then give some back?
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Don't see anything wrong with that
Hidden reply.
The avatar of ""
content deactivated
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
So now taxes are marxist? A democratic government must run without taxes?
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Having a belief that taxes should pay for every position based on the thinking that those in those positions when being required to pay some tax money back - yup pure and simple Marxism.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
So you are saying every public employee should be able to live tax free?
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Yeah that's it. Brilliant on your part.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
You lost me. You said civil servants paying taxes is marxist. Does that not imply that civil servants shouldn't pay tax at all?
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Sorry. Yeah that's it.
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
The two percent proposed cut to HST. How much would that be when buying a $70,000 EV?
Comment by James Risdon.
2 hrs ago
There is zero evidence to support the politically-motivated claim made by both the Liberals and the Greens that we need to throw more taxpayer dollars at healthcare.
Premier Blaine Higgs is doing a great job.
If the healthcare woes in New Brunswick were indeed the result of his policies, then we would expect to see other provinces faring much better than we are here. And that's not the case.
The trouble with healthcare is primarily that we have not graduated enough physicians and nurses and are now facing an acute labour shortage despite record-breaking immigration and immigration programs to bring more healthcare workers here.
That's a problem across the entire country. It is not a New Brunswick-caused problem and throwing more money at it won't make physicians and nurses magically appear in our province.
By the way, federal government figures show that New Brunswick already pays its nurses more than does Quebec or Ontario.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
But they are doing better. The people i know in Manitoba can at least go to one of the many walk in clinics and be seen in a couple hours. The people who complain about it
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
Just don't know how bad it is in NB. It takes me two weeks of calling every evening to see a real doctor.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
What other type of Doctor is there besides real?
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
A nurse at Maple.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
Nice try. I know for a fact some required prescriptions will only be written out by Doctors. And you know that too.
Reply by John Montgomery.
1 hr ago
Yes because maple has one doctor overseeing 20 nurses.
Reply by Gary Webber.
1 hr ago
I just read where Higgs claimed the liberals are copping his health care plan so you might want to retract your statement
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
The Administration Pay Roll is too large.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
Which hospitals, schools, jails, and RCMP stations do you propose closing?
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I would start with Hospitals and head directly to the floor where is not much more than Managers managing Managers.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
So, you want to reduce hospital capacity, eh? Good luck getting elected on that platform.
Reply by William Murdoch.
1 hr ago
I am not running for Office. And I did not attack Nurses. Their continued griping has run its course. And Managers managing Managers - how many do you think are needed for that?
Comment by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
When Hatfield was Premier Nurses went on a job action slow down
Their Buttons Said:
OVER WORKED
UNDER PAID
Reply by William Peters.
2 hrs ago
If they are needed and we can't hire them they are underpaid. That's what a labor market rationale would suggest. Of course this is why we are seeing our labor force being filled with foreign workers. Everyone would rather be a manager of a worker. The Conservative way is to slash salary, because there is nothing more real than the money it would cost those who have it to pay for what society needs. Those people are not handing it over and will run a candidate to cut taxes (on their rapidly growing wealth) who allegedly deliver us everything we need and want. You see, you should want less exactly as capitalism promises more for evermore.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
The point that I was trying to make is ... Nurses have perfected their griping.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
Please, feel free to attack nurses, the very folks you depend upon when you find yourself in the hospital. Seems like a good stategy.
Comment by Jake Newman.
2 hrs ago
more money isn't the answer. major changes are needed but that is always being stopped by some group....The problem is with the gov't bureaucrats, administrators, the workers (docs, nurses, techs, non-medical staff, etc., all the unions, College of Physicians & Surgeons, and all the groups that represent some group (including special interest groups), and of course the citizens. Unless all these groups are willing to work together and make major changes to operations, health care will always be in a crisis regardless of how much money is thrown in.
Reply by Lynette Browne.
2 hrs ago
The major change needed is a huge paradigm shift in how we deal with HC in this country.
Otherwise, the system will continue to slowly go in circles, down the drain.
Reply by William Peters.
2 hrs ago
It has to be probably funded by capitalists. Capitalism is the best system in the world to make the profits to pay for it. Sadly we have a two party duopoly who promotes austerity for the poor and all out "economic development" of natural resources. What we are paying for is business sector success. Business is only half the private sector, though. The other component is households. It is there you will find a need for healthcare. You are right that we need a paradigm shift in how we tax capital gains, because that is just allowing a free ride to aspiring aristocrats.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
The problem is that capitalism is a terrible caregiver.
Comment by Gary Webber.
2 hrs ago
Don't count on the Higgs government to deliver on any promises, watch what he's not saying like forced detention for people with addiction or higher property taxes .
Reply by Jake Newman.
2 hrs ago
nothing wrong with forced help for folks with addiction. either get help or you on your own.
Reply by William Murdoch.
2 hrs ago
Where would those you speak of be forced into?
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
Nothing at all wrong with involuntary treatment, except it does not work. Good luck with that.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
Likely a secure hospital/jail.
Reply by Jake Newman.
1 hr ago
and what has been happening now hasn't worked, just look at the mess in BC.
Comment by Bob Smith.
2 hrs ago
Money alone won't solve the problems with healthcare. Maybe start with solutions that don't involve "kick the can down the road" thinking. Liberals and Conservatives have both done this far too often in NB. We have a large percentage of elderly folks here yet the gov't has shown little desire to build enough nursing homes AND adequately staff them.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
Well, for the last 6 years we have tried starving the health care system of resources and money and today we can see the results as our system collapses. Maybe another approach and more money spent correctly is the way to go after failing with Higgs plan.
Comment by MR Cain.
3 hrs ago
I would like to see all these plans Mr. Higgs has for every problem he has yet to resolve. It took 3 years to convince him there was a housing problem, and he still had to "study" the issue for a year. Health care is being dealt with by the practicioners, longer hours and more patience. Funding is needed to fill positions; reduce casual employment.
Reply by Jake Newman.
2 hrs ago
a national housing crisis, a national health care crisis but somehow it's Higgs fault? The one common dominator is the Federal Liberal Gov't. If Holt and her provincial liberals really cared they would be calling out JT and his gov't.
Reply by John Montgomery.
2 hrs ago
None of the problems are Higgs fault, but the fact that NB hasn't had any tangible improvements is.
Reply by MR Cain.
32 min ago
Agreements with all the provinces and feds for housing were made 6 years ago; the premiers did nada. A national strategy was offered by the feds and the premiers intervened and claimed the all had different health priorities. Higgs was asked about adopting national standards for long term care and said we couldn't afford it. The premiers cried for more people and did nothing to invest in the accommodation. If you were better informed you would know all this.
Comment by ralph jacobs.
3 hrs ago
I don't think our health care problem is from lack of money or hospitals. It's lack of qualified people to do the job.
Reply by Art McCarthy.
3 hrs ago
Make you wonder why this gov't funding for seats at MUN Medicine. We had 10 seats there, guaranteed for NB'ers.
Reply by MR Cain.
2 hrs ago
At what level would this be? Nurse specialists, imaging technologists, doctors of various disciplines? Maybe it is politicians sticking their noses in a subject they know little?
Comment by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
The influx of foreign workers wouldn't be a problem if their wages along with all Canadians wages were enough to contribute enough taxes to support their families. The problem is not foreigners
Reply by Max Ruby.
4 hrs ago
The problem is high taxes. Taxes are the largest household expense for families in Canada. "It's not only income taxes. It's also payroll taxes, sales taxes, fuel taxes when you're filling up at the pump. Property taxes as well," said Jake Fuss, fiscal studies director with Fraser Institute. AND New Brunswick pays the HIGHEST PROPERTY TAXES IN CANADA on top.
https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/average-canadian-household-spends-almost-half-its-income-on-taxes-fraser-institute-1.6983370
https://www.nesto.ca/mortgage-basics/property-taxes-by-province-in-canada-highest-to-lowest/
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
Taxes only have to go up if wages don't.
Reply by John Montgomery.
3 hrs ago
If a person makes $100 and the government needs $15 from that then they need 15% tax. If the same people make $150 an hour then the government can leave tax down at 10%>
Reply by David Amos.
3 hrs ago
Do you recall why I ran for a seat in Parliament 20 years ago?
Reply by Max Ruby.
3 hrs ago
Property tax? I'll vote for you. Heck I'll help you :)
Reply by Max Ruby.
3 hrs ago
The higher the population growth the easier the government can borrow money.
This bulletin shows that deficit spending and government debt come at a substantial cost to Canadians. In aggregate, the provinces and federal government are expected to spend $81.8 billion on interest payments in 2023/24. Debt servicing charges in 2023/24 is nearly what the government expects to spend on the Canada Health Transfer and significantly more than it expects to spend on childcare benefits.
Federal and Provincial Debt-Interest Costs for
Canadians, 2024 Edition
Reply by John Montgomery.
3 hrs ago
So where are the benefits from all the debt Higgs paid?
Reply by John Montgomery.
3 hrs ago
To clarify, i don't care if things get better by spending money directly or by the money that comes from reduced maintenance payments. But if nothing is getting better by doing what you are doing, then continuing the same thing is just throwing good money after bad.
Reply by MR Cain.
2 hrs ago
Both the Greens and Liberals have plans to straighten out the property tax issue; Higgs needs the revenue to cover the HST cut.
Reply by BRIAN SAUNDERS.
1 hr ago
Only if you have a provincial government paying attention and willing to spend more in areas of need like the health care system.
Comment by Douglas James.
4 hrs ago
And there we see Higgs touting lowering the HST by 2 cents on the dollar. His priority is not healthcare, it is simply getting elected and he seems to truly believe he can 'buy votes' by telling people they'll save $20 if they spend $1,000. You can get deals far better than that on pretty much anything you buy these days. And yes, of course, I understand that the savings are on anything and everything. In fact, he claims that if we spend $50,000 ( what he seems to think the 'average' New Brunswicker has to spend in the course of a year, we'll save $950. He believes people are that gullible?
Reply by David Amos.
4 hrs ago
Oh MY My You can say it but I cannot agree Go Figure
Reply by Max Ruby.
3 hrs ago
His HST 2 cents won't do anything for anyone but big spenders. Property tax is the big elephant that no party will touch and it effects everyone.
Comment by Marge Timmons.
5 hrs ago
Over 6M Canadians without a family DR. Like housing, the healthcare issues are mainly caused by the our Federal gov't bringing in too many people.
Reply by Bob Smith.
4 hrs ago
Immigration is not the problem with healthcare. Fixing it requires many steps and long term planning.
Reply by Walter Vrbetic.
4 hrs ago
All at the request of the premiers.
In '22 ON's Doug Ford begged Ottawa for more immigrants to help with the shortage of 350k workers, AB claimed to be short 93k and MB 40k.
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
So they should cut all foreign workers and let all but the largest restaurant chains go bankrupt? I don't agree with foreign workers either, but i am fully prepared to eat at home.
Reply by Bob Louie.
1 hr ago
Immigration IS one of the major causes of the doctors shortage. The other is that all provinces have not increased the number of seats in our medical schools.
Comment by Max Ruby.
5 hrs ago
If skyrocketing property taxes is your priority it is not the priority of the 2 main parties, highest property taxes in Canada for years under both of them.
Reply by John Montgomery.
5 hrs ago
Our type of civilization doesn't work without taxes.
Reply by Max Ruby.
5 hrs ago
"Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society", this from the American Supreme Court Justice, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., in a 1927 case.
Government spending was much lower in 1927 compared to now. You are proposing that because one glass of wine has healthful effects, then a dozen drinks must be even better.
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
How much has the wealth gap grown since 1927?
Reply by Max Ruby.
4 hrs ago
Weatlh gap has grown huge under our two main parties. Government policies benefit corporations at the expense of taxpayers, consumers and small business. Government subsidizes them with taxpayer money. Look at the EV battery plant in Windsor Ontario, $15 billion given to them. Correct me if my math is wrong but isn't that approx $300 per man woman and child in Canada?
Comment by Frank Blacklock.
5 hrs ago
These are very specific problems. Canadian provinces should allow private clinics for hip/knee surgeries, MRI and CT scans, and specialist doctors.
Rich older people and business/industry top earners currently go to the USA and other countries for treatments/scans. Why does Canada not open up private clinics and keep this money in our economy?
Reply by John Montgomery.
5 hrs ago
Because it has *already* made the wait longer for other things in our province.
Reply by John Montgomery.
5 hrs ago
Because it has *already* made the wait longer for other things in our province.
Reply by Walter Vrbetic.
4 hrs ago
Where would the private clinic Drs and nurses come from?
Reply by Frank Blacklock.
4 hrs ago
More high quality doctors and nurses would stay in the country, and move into the country.
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
But that would require us all to pay more anyway. Why not just pay that amount to public workers?
Reply by MR Cain.
2 hrs ago
Fairy dust.
Reply by Walter Vrbetic.
2 hrs ago
Biggest issue for those moving into the country, even for those who arre CDN citizens but trained elsewhere is getting accreditation... almost as if provinces and colleges of physicians and surgeons are impeding them.
Reply by Frank Blacklock.
2 hrs ago
Rich old people and corporation owners will just go out of the country to get better service anyways. Why not give them the option to pay for it here, and free up healthcare services for those who can’t afford to pay for it? Taxes will be collected for healthcare regardless.
Comment by John Montgomery.
6 hrs ago
People work for companies where the owners drive Ferraris and they wonder why they can't afford any more taxes.
Reply by Frank Blacklock.
6 hrs ago
Only beaters here
Reply by Max Ruby.
5 hrs ago
Taxes? Provincial net job growth in the government sector has exceeded the private sector in all 10 provinces. New Brunswick: Feb 2020 - June 2023 Government sector increased 18.4% and private sector went DOWN 0.6%.
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/file/public-and-private-sector-job-growth-in-provinces-during-covid-19-era-infographic-atlcjpg
Reply by John Montgomery.
5 hrs ago
What does that have to do with anything? Public sector jobs increase as one method to help citizens feed their families.
Reply by Max Ruby.
5 hrs ago
Higher taxes are needed to pay the salary, pensions and benefits of public sector growth. We are all paying higher taxes while the non-government job pool is shrinking and many don't get pensions and benefits. Get it?
Reply by John Montgomery.
5 hrs ago
Those people go out and shop for things, thus creating a feedback loop that returns money to the government as well as supporting more citizens. Money helps people when it moves around.
Reply by Max Ruby.
4 hrs ago
According to you those people go shop for things from an employer who drives a Ferrari, to afford that vehicle he must employ TFWs who send the money outside Canada to support their family overseas. It not a feedback loop: Canada receives approximately 5% of the total $583 billion sent by migrants worldwide each year.
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
I never said i agree with foreign workers. Ok fact i believe that is what is keeping wages very low. So low that people here can't afford taxes.
Reply by Max Ruby.
4 hrs ago
Taxes are so high employers bring in foreign workers. Taxes is what is keeping wages low. Root cause.
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
So you think Tim Hortons is on the verge of going bankrupt?
Comment by james bolt.
7 hrs ago
If health care is your priority vote NDP
Reply by William Peters.
7 hrs ago
Are they still a party?
Reply by Graeme Scott.
6 hrs ago
Who?
Comment by Lorraine Morgan.
7 hrs ago
Higgs has set NB back 30 years. Time to let the moths out of Higgs' wallet.
Reply by Jerry Dion.
7 hrs ago
LOL the system has been crumbling way before Higgs
Reply by William Peters.
7 hrs ago
To the degree that we have had austerity promoting Conservatives elected Provincially and Federally this is true. Some people are comfortable with public healthcare failing you, because that opens the door to for-profit healthcare. Less on their plates means more surpluses which they can allege is poof they are great stewards of our social institutions. Don't trade Healthcare for meaningless surpluses that merely represent you paying too many taxes for what you are getting.
Reply by John Montgomery.
7 hrs ago
But it crumbled more under higgs. He also doubled down on his responsibility by replacing the board who also did nothing.
Reply by Jerry Dion.
7 hrs ago
Both the PCs and the liberals have failed our healthcare system over the years with inadequate funding and promises that they have never kept and they are both trying to tell us they can fix it. People need to stop buying into and start voting in a different party.
Reply by Art McCarthy.
6 hrs ago
It's not apples-to-apples. We've fallen off a precipice with this gov't. We now have ~190,000 residents without primary care, and the clinics can't keep up. And 4 years ago the Higgs gov't cut the 10 seats we funded at MUN medical, so we've reduced the potential crop of local physicians to fill already thinned ranks (gasoline, meet fire).
And in the years since this gov't cut the funding for 10 seats at Dal Physiotherapy and for the 10 seats at Dal Occupational Therapy.
Reply by Jerry Dion.
6 hrs ago
6 MILLION Canadians without a family doctor right across this country, there isn't a single political party who could have prepared for Mass immigration to this country over the years. This isn't a post to defend HIGGS, if people truly want change then its time to vote for change. Stop electing the same 2 parties and send a clear message to both libs and PCs we arent happy how things have been done for the last 20 years
Reply by Max Ruby.
6 hrs ago
Paul Martin cut federal health (and other) transfers by 40 per cent and repealed laws that forced provinces to spend transfers on health and education. He refused to enforce the Canada Health Act’s banning of private care.
Paul Martin completely eliminated the social housing budget in 1995, making Canada the only developed country without such a program.
Reply by JOhn D Bond.
6 hrs ago
Two questions.
Who has responsibilitiey for the deliverly of health care from a constitutional perspective?
Who is running for election in 2024?
Reply by Max Ruby.
5 hrs ago
The Feds have the responsibilty for health transfers and the L Feds cut the amount and removed the oversight on how the provinces spend the money. The PCs, Libs, Greens, and NDP are running for NB election in 2024. Two of em have already had a kick at the can too many times, that is why we have the highest greedy property taxes in Canada! Next...
Reply by JOhn D Bond.
4 hrs ago
Convienent exclusion of salient details Max, why didn't the provinces use the tax transfer points they were granted when that happened?
As for property taxes you are incorrec, not the highest in the country
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
Though it soon will be because Higgs choose to pay debt. And with the proposed cut to HST he will likely need to make it up in property tax. He certainly isn't cutting expenses by that amount.
Reply by Max Ruby.
4 hrs ago
Quebec property tax is relatively low as well compared to New Brunswick which has the highest property taxes in Canada. Property tax rate comparison shows that property taxes in some provinces are more than 2 times that in other provinces.
https://www.nesto.ca/mortgage-basics/property-taxes-by-province-in-canada-highest-to-lowest/
Reply by Art McCarthy.
3 hrs ago
That would be true if the shortfall was only the increased population, which it isn't. Stop using immigration as a bogeyman.
Comment by Lorraine Morgan.
7 hrs ago
Pay them more! Why would any doctor or nurse want to practice in a province where they are paid less than anywhere else in Canada, the climate sucks, the services suck, and they are over-worked before they even get here. We need to pay them MORE than other provinces. We then may have a hope of having enough doctors and nurses.
Comment by John Montgomery.
8 hrs ago
Don't people realize when Higgs says, "you need more than money to fix these problems" it basically implies he wouldn't know what to do with it. Let's elect a leader that does, for our own sakes.
Reply by Danyello Stearto.
7 hrs ago
the idea that there are issues of management is one that "most people" can't really speak on, outside of government. without a credible alternative posited, a comment like this is overbearingly cynical.
this said, I don't have an answer to this either, there are a lot of variables and an enormous amount of information I do not have here. I'm just saying, 'issues of management' are well within the realm of "you need more than money to fix these problems" because the levels of management and the 'dual' systems (as per bilingualism) are certainly 'spicy' topics, when you get down to rational acting.
Reply by William Peters.
7 hrs ago
That's a good point. His focus on bottom lines and scriptures is bad news for everyone, because there is an easy rationale in thinking you can do nothing and allow the good Lord to provide for those he cherishes most (aka, billionaires).
Reply by John Montgomery.
6 hrs ago
Nothing but deflection.
Comment by Jack Bell.
8 hrs ago
"Liberals, Greens prescribe major infusions of money to cure health troubles"
Why fix the actual problems by bringing in efficiencies by getting rid of red tape and high paid bureaucrats, giving healthcare workers a better work life balance, stop adding stress to the system by bringing in more and more people, and increase our healthcare worker pool by lessening language requirements, when we can throw a never-ending supply of taxpayer money at the problem.
Reply by John Montgomery.
8 hrs ago
The libs are saying they will do that. Higgs is saying he doesn't know what to do.
Reply by William Peters.
7 hrs ago
The penny pinchers are those who demand to know where every cent goes in great detail. Mind the pennies and the dollars will look after themselves ideology...If you think the Cons are not entirely for red tape guess again. More time is spent identifying things to cut than to make that effort work towards providing services. As anyone who is a manager in the public service role is under pressure to be make these politicians look good on paper.
Comment by Ben DeKraker.
9 hrs ago
Bye bye Blaine. And good riddance.
Reply by William Peters.
6 hrs ago
I'm getting that even from people who are die-hard Cons. One canvasser just told me that the number one issue/irritant that she sees on people's radar right now isn't healthcare; it's immigration. The fact that Higgs is touting his increased population numbers while service levels have cratered is making some people's blood boil. The shortages of teachers and the demographic make-up of classes is currently fresh on the mind of a lot of people.
Comment by Charles Neal.
9 hrs ago
Encourage and support the young adults who want to enter the medical field with free tuition and their commitment to practice in the province for five years. Think outside the box. It's the people we need, as simple as that. The old supply and demand model from economics.
Reply by William Peters.
6 hrs ago
That's not very realistic, and economists are wrong in this assessment. You can never pay people enough to be in a toxic situation. You'll financially encourage some, but they won't stick. Money isn't nearly the carrot that people think it is. You have to offer the prospects of a decent life which allows good mental health outcomes. It's going to be hard to staff-up to those levels now that we have allowed the problem (a hole) to become so deep. "Come and help us run on fumes" has limited appeal. On top of that the Politicians ae only too quick to blame the staff publicly at the sign of problems.
Reply by John Montgomery.
6 hrs ago
So then the economists would say, pay them more to alleviate the short term problems and then work to make the conditions better. Making working conditions less toxic would totally be part of the economic solution.
Reply by Charles Neal.
5 hrs ago
you are giving them retention money at the beginning not at the end.
Comment by Frank Blacklock.
9 hrs ago
Healthcare was damaged by too many people at one time, and healthcare mandates.
Reply by Shawn Tabor.
8 hrs ago
You understand. Good comment
Comment by Jimmy Cochrane.
9 hrs ago
Cash to cure healthcare problems? You're kidding right?
Reply by Shawn Tabor.
8 hrs ago
Yes, isn’t it ludicrous.
Reply by John Montgomery.
8 hrs ago
Do you know any other way to attract workers,?
Reply by William Peters.
6 hrs ago
Last time I looked people still needed to be paid. No one is providing healthcare out of a religious calling these days. The nunneries and monasteries have been replaced by human resources in a capitalist model where capitalism's profits are required to pay for it.
Reply by John Montgomery.
6 hrs ago
Furthermore, there has been 12% inflation over the last two years, so they need to be paid 12% more just to remain the same. Paying them more means more than 12% over what they were paid in 2019.
Comment by David Amos.
10 hrs ago
Anyone notice anything missing?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/cbc-election-debate-1.7333022
Reply by Ed Franks.
6 hrs ago
There is no NDP candidate. Maybe 3 lefts don’t make it right.
Comment by Shawn Tabor.
10 hrs ago
Increase the taxes, by 20-25%, who cares anymore. Its all nothing but B/S. How about a politicians talk about lowering taxes. Highest inflation in the country. Yup our government is one efficient machine. It does not matter folks who is in power. Blue or Red, they are just repeating the same things, trying to come out with a different outcome. Welcome to NB, the place to be, where some folks and families get wealthy on the backs of taxpayers. History is the proof. Check it out for yourself. Trust none of them. Taxes and death yee haa
Reply by David Amos.
10 hrs ago
Guess who is gonna run against Higgy
Reply by Shawn Tabor.
9 hrs ago
You, i am assuming. I know that Bruce Northrup is. Sadly nothing will change, except higher taxes and cost of living. Again taxes and death, yee haa. Its now or has been out of control for years.
Reply by John Montgomery.
7 hrs ago
If taxes are too high, look at why your employer doesn't pay you enough to support your place in society.
Reply by Shawn Tabor.
6 hrs ago
Its out of control now. Oh well who cares right. You can always trust your Politicians. Its all good.
Reply by Max Ruby.
5 hrs ago
Ask your employer how much tax they have to pay. I give you a sample: Tim Hortons 1166 Mountain Rd, Moncton. Just the property tax is - $49,910.22 The property is assessed at $1,177,600. 10 years ago it was assessed at $527,500.
No wonder employers begging for Temporary Foreign Workers eh?
http://propertize.ca/en/results/location/63460?civic=1166&page=8
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
Those numbers are entirely out of context without knowing what the profit of the location is and what percentage is spent on labor.
Reply by Max Ruby.
4 hrs ago
Employer has to pay property tax whether he makes a profit or not. NB has tax court for unpaid property taxes.
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
But you are saying it is an unfair hardship on the employee. Without knowing what the profit is, how do you know? It's just a number. If that site makes 10 million a year then that tax is a drop in the bucket.
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
Sorry i mean the employer.
Comment by David Amos.
11 hrs ago
"PCs have proposed their own $1.5-billion plan over four years to cut the HST by two percentage points but Higgs says that will be affordable by managing government costs, including in health care."
Yea Right
Comment by Max Ruby.
11 hrs ago
More pending doesn't solve the problem. Spending on public schools in the province is well above the national average on a per-student basis, $15,000 per student was spent in New Brunswick public schools in 2017/18 (the latest year of comparable data) , the second-highest spending level in Canada.
New Brunswick’s student performance ranks among the worst in Canada, the province ranks last in Canada in reading, second-last in science and fourth-last in math.
Reply by David Amos.
11 hrs ago
Tragic
Reply by Errol Willis.
11 hrs ago
Correct - money is not the answer in its entirety.
Reply by Shawn Tabor.
10 hrs ago
Efficiency NB the place to be. You can’t make this stuff up. Wonder who is about to get wealthier on tax dollars. Stay tuned you will know or understand.
Reply by Matt Adams.
10 hrs ago
sadly much of the voting public is not intelligent enough to realize that more $ does not fix the problem.
Reply by Ron parker.
10 hrs ago
is that the Blaney thing?
Reply by Ron parker.
10 hrs ago
Hi Matt, sadly much of the voting public fall for and forget all the promises made and broken by all parties.
Reply by Shawn Tabor.
8 hrs ago
Its all of it, oh well increase taxes, nobody will mind. Its all good. Trust your leaders. You can take it to the honest bankers. Just have faith, it will fix it self LOL. If your stressed out trust the Lawyers. Its all good.
Reply by John Montgomery.
8 hrs ago
True, you also need a leader that knows what to do with the money. That is what we are trying to accomplish with the election.
Reply by Ron parker.
7 hrs ago
George Carlin nailed it.
Reply by Sean Adams.
7 hrs ago
I miss George...you gotta know he'd have a thing or three to say about the nonstop political poopshow we find ourselves living in, both here and Stateside...
Reply by John Montgomery.
6 hrs ago
He ranted.a lot while helping himself only.
Reply by David Amos.
4 hrs ago
His rants were true and he helped a lot of folks to think about how to make a change with their votes Hence he is fondly remembered much to your chagrin obviously
Reply by John Montgomery.
4 hrs ago
That is also why people believe in disinformation. Because having your beliefs confirmed by another raises the dopamine in the body almost as much as sex, to the point that it overrides the will to find the truth. It's a bad human instinct, that's all I'm saying.
Comment by Errol Willis.
11 hrs ago
We should just look at some kind of privatization of health care while still protecting those vulnerable and lower income families. The model we have now worked well in the 60s and 70s, but clinging to it and throwing endless money at it will not fix it.
Holt wants to just throw money at it. Higgs is probably a little too extreme on the other end. Somewhere in the middle is the answer.
Reply by Denis Van Humbeck.
11 hrs ago
Privatizing is charging very high prices.
Reply by Denis Van Humbeck.
11 hrs ago
Medical equipment and more doctors and healthcare workers cost money . Private clinics do not work for free. And only wealthy politicians can afford to use those private clinics.
Reply by Mehare Mahalatti.
11 hrs ago
tax payors money should not be supporting big business health care
Reply by Errol Willis.
11 hrs ago
Not necessarily. It doesn't have to be the US style where people go bankrupt from healthcare.
Reply by Errol Willis.
11 hrs ago
As soon as you say "only wealthy politicians", you've lost the argument.
Times have changed, people are living longer, we have doubled the population and still think what we had will work. There are other options out there, if we are willing to look.
Reply by Errol Willis.
11 hrs ago
I think you'll find that it already does.
Reply by Art McCarthy.
6 hrs ago
That's a hard "No". Privatization requires patients to become consumers, and there is no scenario when your health ( and perhaps your life) is on the line that you can expect that consumer to make a rational choice (purchase).
If you want to know more about this, reference "How We Do Harm" by Otis Brawley
Comment by Denis Van Humbeck.
11 hrs ago
We should be like Norway. We should nationalize our natural resources like oil, mining, logging and the auto sector.
Reply by Matt Adams.
10 hrs ago
because government is so effective at running a business - look at NB Power and ANBL!
Reply by John Montgomery.
5 hrs ago
Well that depends on who you vote for. Clearly Higgs has shown that he doesn't know how.
Comment by Denis Van Humbeck.
11 hrs ago
The feds could be giving each province billions of dollars each year for healthcare.
Reply by Mathieu Laperriere.
11 hrs ago
They do that already.
Reply by Mehare Mahalatti.
11 hrs ago
and some premiers redirect a percentage of that money to other pet projects and for profit private health care
Reply by Denis Van Humbeck.
11 hrs ago
We need laws to any politician who does that should go to jail.
Reply by Mathieu Laperriere.
11 hrs ago
Yup, conservative premiers are good at that.
Reply by Lorraine Morgan.
7 hrs ago
The Feds have offered Higgs millions of dollars for health care, but he has refused it, as the deal meant matching dollar for dollar. This guy has set NB back 30 years. Time to let the moths out of Higgs' wallet.
Comment by Denis Van Humbeck.
11 hrs ago
Its time that healthcare become federal and all money come from the federal government. Feds could stop giving our money to foreign countries at war.
Comment by Eugene Peabody.
11 hrs ago
Being able to access a doctor is a big issue for me . Myself and almost half of my extended family have lost our family doctor in the last couple of years.
Comment by Mehare Mahalatti.
11 hrs ago
" Higgs in the 2018 election he pledged to cut wait times for knee and hip replacements in New Brunswick in half"
"It was a prescription that appears not to have worked. Five years later, waits for those procedures have grown longer."
>only one of many...ffails
Comment by JOhn D Bond.
11 hrs ago
This issue has grown much worse during Higgs's time in government. Yes we had a pandemic. But also we received hundreds of millions in support yearly from the Feds that on the surface found its way to the budget surpluses instead of health care spending.
While deficit reduction and debt management is important. It is not as important as the ability of people to get quality health care on a quick and efficient basis, to have access to a family doctor. To not have to choose between rent or food.
From a fiscal management perspective, Higgs has shown that he is a capable fiscal manager.
From a premier of the province perspective where the social well being of the residents in the province is the primary responsibility he is a failure.
The upcoming vote will allow NBers the ability to address what their priorities are .
Comment by Daniel Henwell.
12 hrs ago
Hard to believe opponents could criticize the premier for paying back 2 billion in debt. The Red & Green parties are like a kid with daddy's credit card..... party now pay later & let the debt pile up.
Reply by Ron parker.
11 hrs ago
Hi Daniel, paying back 2 billion is awesome, for me the criticism is back in 2018 higgs promised to fix lots of health care problems and not much has changed like ambulance wait times for 1 example.
Reply by John Montgomery.
6 hrs ago
You don't pay down the mortgage while your own roof is leaking.
Reply by David Amos.
16 min ago
I do
Reply by David Amos.
15 min ago
Its a good example
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/ambulance-delays-new-brunswick-continuing-problem-1.7335091
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