R
WAS HELD BEFORE THE DEBATE AND
OUR FIRST QUESTION WILL BE FOR
McKENZIE TO HIMISON OF THE NEW
DEMOCRATS.
WE WILL NOW BEGIN THE OPENING
STATEMENTS.
>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU TO
OUR MODRATORS.
THE NEW BRUNSWICK NDP HAS THE
LARGEST DIVERSITY OF ALL PARTIES
IN OUR CANDIDATES.
THEY TRULY REPRESENT THE
BEAUTIFUL.
>> Mose: SICK IN NEW BRUNSWICK
INCLUDING YOUTH, LABOUR, LGBTQ2+
AND ETHNIC AND VISIBILITY
MINORITIES.
WE HAVE THE MOST CANDIDATES
UNDER 35, WE HAVE THE SECOND
HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF NON-MALE
IDENTIFIED CANDIDATES AND WE
HAVE A BOLD PLATFORM THAT IS
PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST.
I ALONG WITH OUR CANDIDATES HAVE
BEEN PRESENT AT EVENTS WHERE NOT
ONLY WERE THE LEADERS NOT
PRESENT FROM THE OTHER PARTIES,
THEY COULDN'T EVEN BE BOTHERED
TO SEND A CANDIDATE TO REPRESENT
THEM OR THEIR PARTY.
IS THIS REALLY THE BEST WE CAN
DO FOR NEW BRUNSWICKERS?
OUR CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN
LISTENING TO PEOPLE ALL ACROSS
NEW BRUNSWICK, NOT JUST
CORPORATIONS.
OUR PEOPLE NEED HOPE.
AND AS THE PARTY WITH HEART, WE
PLAN ON DELIVERING PROGRESSIVE
IDEAS AND PROGRAMS THAT WILL
ENSURE EVERYONE IS TREATED
FAIRLY AND HELP THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN FORGOTTEN BY THE POLITICAL
ELITE IN THIS PROVINCE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. HONOURABLE Mr.
NEXT Mr. CHRIS AUSTIN.
>> THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING.
THIS ELECTION REALLY IS JUST
ABOUT TWO THINGS... DO WE GO
BACK TO MAJORITY GOVERNMENTS OR
ONE PARTY HOLDS ALL THE POWER OR
BACK TO MAJORITY GOVERNMENT THAT
HAVE LED US TO WHERE WE ARE
TODAY, HIGH DEBT, HIGH TAXES AND
THE LIST GO ON AND ON?
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE
WORKED DILIGENTLY IN A
COOPERATIVE SPIRIT TO ENSURE
BOTH ACCOUNTABILITY AND
STABILITY.
WE HAVE SEEN NEW BRUNSWICK MOVE
FORWARD IN A WAY THAT WE HAVE
NOT SEEN IN DECADES, IN JUST
UNDER TWO YEARS.
THINK OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN
THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
AND YET WE HAVE BANDED TOGETHER
AS DIFFERENT PARTY LEADERS WITH
DIFFERENT IDEAS, DIFFERENT
OPINIONS AND WE'VE BROUGHT NEW
BRUNSWICK THROUGH, LEADING THE
NATION AND NORTH AMERICA AS A
WHOLE.
WE CANNOT GIVE CREDIT TO ONE
PERSON, WE CAN GIVE CHRIS TO
YOU, THE PEOPLE OF NEW BRUNSWICK
AND TO THE ALL-PARTY CABINET
COMMITTEE.
NOW, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE
HAVE WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY TO
BRING THINGS LIKE REASONABLE
LANGUAGE FAIRNESS INTO THE
EQUATION.
WE NOW HAVE PARAMEDICS, 50 OF
THEM, UNILINGUAL THAT DO NOT
HAVE BILINGUAL SKILLS, WORKING
AS PARAMEDICS ON A REGULAR BASIS
AND WE'VE SEEN FASTER RESPONSE
TIMES IN RURAL AREAS BECAUSE OF
IT.
WE'VE WORKED HARD TO PASS THE
FIRST BALANCED BUDGET.
WE SUPPORTED IT.
THE LIBERALS AND GREENS DID NOT.
I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
WE CONTINUE THE MINORITY
GOVERNMENT MOVING FORWARD,
BECAUSE IT JUST MAKES GOOD
GOVERNMENT.
WE CANNOT GO BACK TO THE OLD
DAYS OF ONE PARTY HOLDING ALL
THE POWER.
TODAY THIS IS ABOUT NEW
BRUNSWICKERS, THIS IS ABOUT
CHOICE AND THIS IS ABOUT HAVING
YOUR VOICE IN THE LEGISLATURE.
I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE
DONE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND
I'M EXCITED FOR WHERE WE'RE
GOING TO GO MOVING FORWARD.
I'M ASKING YOU, KEEP A MINORITY,
VOTE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE.
>> NEXT FROM THE PROGRESSIVE
CONSERVATIVE PARTY, BLAIN HIGGS.
>> I WANT TO START TONIGHT BY
THANKING ALL NEW BRUNSWICKERS.
WITHOUT YOU OUR PROVINCE WOULD
NOT BE WHERE IT IS TODAY.
WE CAN BE PROUD OF THE RESULTS
WE'VE ACHIEVED THUS FAR.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
SUCCESS OF THE ALL PARTY COVID
COMMITTEE WORKING WITH PUBLIC
HEALTH, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND
PUBLIC SAFETY.
MY GOAL THREE WEEKS AGO WAS TO
BUILD ON THAT COLLABORATION, AND
MY INTEREST CONTINUES TO BE TO
KEEP THIS COMMITTEE GOING.
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC STRUCK, WE
RESTORED OUR FINANCIAL HEALTH,
WHICH MEANS WE HAVE MORE MONEY
FOR HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND
VITAL SOCIAL PROGRAMS.
SINCE TAKING OFFICE, WE DID WHAT
WE SAID WE WOULD DO.
WE PUT IN A REGULATED ANNUAL
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE, INCREASED
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE, INVESTED MORE
MONEY IN HEALTH CARE, AND WE
ELIMINATED THE PHYSICIAN BILLING
SYSTEM THAT WAS A BARRIER TO
DOCTOR RECRUITMENT.
WE REJECTED THE FEDERAL TAX HIKE
ON SMALL BUSINESS, WE REDUCED
WORK SAFE PREMIUMS FOR EMPLOYERS
WHILE ENHANCING SAFETY AND
PROTECTING BENEFITS FOR INJURED
WORKERS.
WE WERE BUILDING STRONG MOMENTUM
TO MAKE NEW BRUNSWICK AN
ATTRACTIVE PLACE FOR INVESTMENT.
NO ONE WOULD HAVE IMAGINED THAT
COVID WOULD STOP US IN OUR
TRACKS.
HOWEVER, THANKS TO OUR
GOVERNMENT'S GOOD MANAGEMENT, WE
WERE STRONGLY POSITIONED GOING
INTO THE PANDEMIC AND ABLE TO
PROVIDE A NUMBER OF FINANCIAL
SUPPORTS, INCLUDING WAGE TOP-UPS
FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, EMERGENCY
FUNDS FOR IMPACTED WORKERS,
WORKING CAPITAL LOANS AND
SUPPORT FOR NONPROFITS.
AS A RESULT, WE ARE SEEING SOME
OF THE BEST ECONOMIC RECOVERY
STATISTICS IN THE ENTIRE NATION.
THE BANK OF MONTREAL REPORTED
THAT NEW BRUNSWICK'S ECONOMY IS
PROJECT TODAY FULLY REBOUND AND
GROW 1.2% BEYOND ITS PANDEMIC
LEVELS BY NEXT YEAR.
IN RECENT DAYS, I'VE LAID OUT
OUR PLANS TO TACKLE MENTAL
HEALTH AND DYCKS, FOOD SECURITY,
EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND CLIMB
CHANGE, ALL WHILE KEEPING OUR
BUSINESSES MORE COMPETITIVE IN A
POST-COVID WORLD.
HOWEVER, WE KNOW OUR RECOVERY IS
FRAGILE AND WE HAVE MUCH WORK
AHEAD.
IN BUILDING OUR ECONOMY, WE NEED
SUBSTANCE AND STABILITY.
WE HAVE UP FOR THE JOB TO KEEP
OUR TEAM MOVING.
>> YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.
THANK YOU.
FROM THE KISS PARTY, GERALD
BOWRK.
>> I'M NEW TO POLITICS.
I DID RUN THE LAST TIME.
I'VE GOT A SAW MILL.
I ONLY WORK 88 HOURS A WEEK AS A
HOBBY.
BEFORE THAT I HAD A DAIRY FARM,
I GREW IT FROM 58 HEAD OF CATTLE
UP TO 365 HEAD BEFORE I BECAME
ALLERGIC TO COWS.
BUT WHILE I WAS DOING THAT, I
ALSO HELPED START THE FIRST
VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE SERVICE IN
THE PROVINCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK
AND I WAS ON IT FOR 25 YEARS.
SEVERAL YEARS LATER, I HELPED
START THE FIRST NEW BRUNSWICK
GROUND SEARCH AND RESCUE, AND I
WAS THE SEARCH COORDINATOR FOR
14 YEARS.
AND I ALSO STARTED CRITICAL
STRESS DEBRIEFING WHICH ASSISTS
THE PEOPLE WHO WENT TO THESE
ACCIDENTS AND WE DEBRIEFED
DOCTORS AND POLICEMEN AND
FIREMEN AND NOW EVERY ONE OF
THESE UNITS HAVE CRITICAL
INCIDENCE STRESS DEBRIEFING AND
IT'S ALL BASED ON WHAT WE
CREATED.
I THINK THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS
OUR DEBT.
WE --
LAST --
TWO YEARS AGO, I BROUGHT IT UP
IN THE DEBATE, EVERY ONE OF THE
LEADERS SAID THEY WERE GOING TO
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, NONE OF
THEM HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
AND THIS IS REALLY -- WE'RE
SPENDING $22 MILLION A DAY,
ROUGHLY, TO PAY INTEREST TO THE
BOND RATING AGENCY.
AND UNTIL WE TACKLE THAT AND GET
IT STRAIGHTENED AROUND, THERE'S
NOT A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE CAN
DO TO HELP THE HEALTH CARE AND
THAT TYPE OF SERVICES.
BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS THINK
OUTSIDE THE BOX AND GET THE
NURSE PRACTITIONERS, HOME PATH I
CAN DOCTORS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS
AND ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT
MEDICAL FIELD --
>> Mr. BOURQUE, YOU'RE OUT OF
TIME.
THANK YOU.
NIX FROM THE LIBERAL PARTY,
KEVIN VICKERS.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS
EVENING.
THESE ARE DIFFICULT AND
CHALLENGING TIMES FOR NEW
BRUNSWICK.
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS HAD A
PROFOUND IMPACT UPON ALL OF US.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD
WORK OF NEW BRUNSWICKERS DURING
THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC I'M TALKING
ABOUT OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS,
OUR BRAVE EMPLOYEES WORKING IN
OUR NURSING HOMES AND OUR
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES.
OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, THE FRONT
LINE WORKERS IN OUR BUSINESS AND
OF COURSE YOU, NEW BRUNSWICKERS,
WHO STAYED AT HOME AND FOLLOWED
THE SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES IN
ORDER TO PREVENT FURTHER SPREAD
OF THE VIRUS.
TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE MADE THE
DIFFERENCE, THANK YOU.
AFTER A SUCCESSFUL CAREER, WHICH
I DEDICATED MYSELF TO PUBLIC
SERVICE, I'M BRINGING ALL OF
THAT, WHAT I'VE LEARNED TO
FURTHER SERVE YOU, THE PEOPLE OF
NEW BRUNSWICK.
I HAVE A CLEAR VISION FOR OUR
PROVINCE.
I WANT TO TRANSFORM OUR ECONOMY,
I WANT TO BRING OUR PEOPLE
TOGETHER, AND I WANT TO MAKE
TARGETED INVESTMENTS IN ORDER TO
GROW OUR ECONOMY AND OUR
POPULATION.
WE'LL AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE NEW
IDEAS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD
A NEW ECONOMY IN SECTORS IN
CYBERSECURITY, THE GREEN ECONOMY
AND SMALL MODULAR REACTORS AND
WE WILL BUILD ON OUR TRADITIONAL
INDUSTRIES LIKE FORESTRY,
AGRICULTURE AND FISHERY IN ORDER
TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR RESOURCES.
WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A
BETTER HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
WE MUST WORK WITH OUR PARENTS
AND TEACHERS TO BETTER EDUCATE
OUR CHILDREN IN A SAFE AND
WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT, AND IT'S
TIME WE FINALLY TAKE ACTION TO
PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT.
UNDER BLAINE HIGGS, OUR ECONOMY
HAS BEEN IGNORED.
OUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DIVIDED AND
OUR ENVIRONMENT HAS BEEN PUT AT
RISK.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE CAN AND
WE MUST DO BETTER, BUT WE CAN
ONLY DO BETTER BY WORKING
TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. VICKERS.
OUR NEXT LEADER IS --
OUR NEXT SPEAKER I SHOULD SAY IS
THE GREEN PARTY LEADER, DAVID
COON.
>> GOOD EVENING.
WE'RE LIVING THROUGH WHAT'S
ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE WITH THIS
PANDEMIC BUT IT'S REAL.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN TESTED LIKE THIS
FOR GENERATIONS BUT WE'RE STRONG
PEOPLE.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO OUR
COMMUNITIES AND WE'RE COMMITTED
TO TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER.
THAT'S WHAT SETS US APART FROM
OTHER CANADIANS.
AND IT'S WHY WE LISTEN TO AND
ACTED UPON THE ADVICE OF Dr.
JENNIFER RUSSELL AND OUR PUBLIC
HEALTH COLLEAGUES.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE NOT EXPERIENCED
THE COMMUNITY SPREAD OF THE
VIRUS IN NEW BRUNSWICK UNLIKE
ELSEWHERE IN CANADA.
AND THAT'S WHY OUR ECONOMY IS
RECOVERING FAR MORE QUICKLY IN
NEW BRUNSWICK THAN ANY OTHER
PROVINCE.
MY GREEN CANDIDATES, YOUR
NEIGHBORS AND I HAVE JUST TWO
PRIORITIES:  ONE, TO KEEP YOU
AND YOUR FAMILIES SAFE AND
SECURE IN THE MIDST OF THIS
PANDEMIC, WITHOUT LEAVING ANYONE
BEHIND.
I WORKED HARD ON THE COVID
CABINET COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WHEN GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED
PLANS TO TACKLE THE COVID-19
CRISIS, THAT EVERYONE WOULD BE
PROTECTED.
TWO, COVID-19 HAS REVEALED THE
WEAKNESSES IN THE ELDER CARE
SYSTEM, THE FRAGILITY OF OUR
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND EXPOSED
HOLES IN OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET.
AS GREENS WE'RE COMMITTED TO
CHARTING A PATH TO RECOVERY THAT
WILL ENABLE US TO FIX LONG
STANDING PROBLEMS IN CARING FOR
SENIORS, IN CARING FOR YOUR
FAMILY'S HEALTH AND IN CARING
FOR THE DISADVANTAGED.
AND THE GREEN PATH TO RECOVERY
WILL ENSURE WE RISE TO MEET THE
OTHER GLOBAL CRISIS, THE CLIMATE
EMERGENCY.
THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FEED
OURSELVES LOCALLY AND PRODUCE
ENERGY WE NEED FROM RENEWABLE
RESOURCES TO MAKE US MORE
SECURE.
HOW WILL WE DO THIS?
WELL, IT STARTS WITH MY
COMMITMENT TO PUT YOU, THE WELL
BECOME OF YOUR FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES AT THE HEART OF
EVERY DECISION GOVERNMENT MAKES
WHILE PROTECTING THE NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT UPON WHICH WE
UTTERLY DEPEND.
THIS MEANS SPENDING MONEY WHERE
IT MATTERS, NOT WHERE IT
DOESN'T, IT MEANS PRESENTING
PROVINCIAL BUDGETS THAT HAVE A
HEART AND IT MEANS BRINGING
COMPASSION BACK TO THE SYSTEM AS
IT RUN OUT OF IT.
THAT'S WHAT GREENS WILL DO.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. KOON.
AND THANKS TO ALL OF THE PARTY
LEADERS FOR YOUR OPENING
STATEMENTS.
OUR FIRST PANELIST QUESTION WILL
BE FOR NDP LEADER MacKENZIE
THOMASON AND IT WILL BE ASKED BY
ANDREW WATT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO KICK OFF BY
ASKING YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THE
ECONOMY.
THE LIBERALS ANNOUNCED EARLIER
ON THIS WEEK THAT THEY THINK
THEY WILL NEED TO RUN IF ELECTED
BUDGET DEFICITS FOR THE NEXT TWO
INQUIRIES BUT HAVE COMMITTED TO
BALANCING THE BUDGET BY 2023.
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO COVID
OBVIOUSLY.
IS THAT THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD,
AND WHAT IF ANYTHING WOULD YOU
DO DIFFERENTLY?
>> YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THAT QUESTION.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT
WE RECOGNIZE THAT PUTTING PEOPLE
FIRST AND MAKING SURE THAT
EVERYONE IN NEW BRUNSWICK HAS
ACCESS TO THE SERVICES THAT THEY
PAY FOR THROUGH THEIR TAXES,
THAT'S THE NUMBER 1 PRIORITY.
IF IT MEANS RUNNING A DEFICIT,
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE
DONE.
I LOOK AT OTHER NDP GOVERNMENTS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE RAN
DEFICITS AND PARTICULARLY IN
ALBERTA, WHERE BEFORE THE
ELECTION OF THE UNITED
CONSERVATIVE PARTY IN THAT
PROVINCE, THEY WERE ON TRACK TO
BE OUT OF THEIR DEFICIT, I
BELIEVE IT WAS BY 2024.
AND THE UCP GOVERNMENT CAME IN,
MADE A LOT OF CUTS TO THEIR
SERVICES AND THEY'RE STILL GOING
TO BE OUT OF DEBT BY 2024.
SO IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF WILL
WE GET OUT OF DEBT, BECAUSE WE
WILL.
THE MONEY IS IN THIS PROVINCE TO
MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE THE
PRIORITIES FOR MY COLLEAGUES UP
HERE TODAY, THAT IS GOING TO
ENRICH, THAT IS GOING TO BRING
UP AND THAT IS GOING TO
STRENGTHEN THE PEOPLE OF NEW
BRUNSWICK, NOT THE PEOPLE AT THE
TOP.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. THOMASON.
Mr. AUSTIN, 60 SECONDS.
>> THE ECONOMY IS CRITICAL,
ESPECIALLY DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
WE'VE SEEN THE EFFECT THAT IT'S
HAD ON LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH THE
SHUTDOWN AND WE KNOW THE IMPACT
IT'S HAD ON FAMILIES AND WAGES
AND THEIR ABILITY TO FEED THEIR
FAMILIES.
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT IF WE
ARE GOING TO TURN OUR ECONOMY
AROUND, WE CANNOT JUST SIMPLY
PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS THROUGH
A CONSTANT CORPORATE HANDOUT
THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM LIBERAL AND
CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENTS FOR
DECADES.
WE CAN'T SPEND MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS CHOOSING WHICH
BUSINESSES GROW AND WHICH
BUSINESSES CLOSE DOWN.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE PROPOSED TAX
REDUCTION OF --
ELIMINATION OF THE SMALL
BUSINESS TAX, AS WELL AS AN
ELIMINATION OF THE DOUBLE TAX
WHICH CRIPPLES THIS PROVINCE.
NEW BRUNSWICK IS THE ONLY
PROVINCE IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS
SUCH AN ARCHAIC TAX SYSTEM AND
THEN WE WONDER WHY BUSINESSES
CAN'T GROW IN NEW BRUNSWICK.
AND WE WONDER WHY NEW BUSINESSES
WON'T COME.
I WAS VERY PROUD TO SIT AT THE
TABLE WITH GOVERNMENT, TO PASS
THE FIRST BALANCED BUDGET IN
OVER A DECADE AND I'M GOING TO
CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS THAT TO
SEE THE BOOKS ARE BALANCED.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. AUSTIN.
Mr. HIGGS, 60 SECONDS.
>> WE DID HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET
FOR THE FUTURE.
AND IT WAS VERY ENCOURAGING BACK
IN LAST MARCH EVEN THOUGH IT
WASN'T FULLY SUPPORTED BY ALL.
WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE TAX
REDUCTION, WE HAD A SURPLUS AND
THAT GAVE US A GOOD POSITION TO
BE IN THROUGH THIS COVID
EXPERIENCE THAT WE'RE STILL IN.
BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGH THIS
ELECTION IS MANY PROVINCES, MANY
UNCOSTED PROMISES.
WE HAVE STUCK TO THE PLAN WE PUT
FORWARD AT THE VERY BEGINNING, A
PLAN THAT IS BUILT FOR NEW
BRUNSWICK, A PLAN THAT IS WELL
COSTED OUT AND A PLAN THAT SEES
US WORKING THROUGH THAT
PANDEMIC.
YOU CAN'T ON THE ONE HAND
PROMISE TOTALLY UNLIMITED
PROMISES AND ON THE OTHER HAND
SAY I'M GOING TO BALANCE A
BUDGET IN FOUR YEARS.
IT DOESN'T ADD UP.
YOU CANNOT MAKE SUCH STATEMENTS
WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE WHOLE
FINANCIAL SITUATION OF OUR
PROVINCE.
I AM PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE
ACHIEVED THUS FAR IN THIS
PANDEMIC, BUT I AM CONVINCED
THAT THROUGH A PLAN THAT WE HAVE
OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS, TWO
YEARS, FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
AS WE DEVELOP THUS FAR WE CAN
IMPLEMENT A STRATEGY THAT WILL
SEE US CONTINUE TO GROW IF THIS
PROVINCE AND BE NUMBER 1.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. HIGGS.
60 SECONDS FOR YOU, Mr.
BOURQUE.
>> THANK YOU.
THE DEBT THAT WE HAVE AND THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE PAYING ON
INTEREST IS HOLDING THIS
PROVINCE DOWN DRASTICALLY.
AND IF WE DON'T DEAL WITH THE
DEBT, THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO
HAVE MONEY TO DO THINGS
PROPERLY.
I WAS A DAIRY FARMER AND LIKE I
SAID, I GOT ALLERGIC TO CATTLE
AND I OWED $800,000 ON MY
SIGNATURE.
SO THE LAWYERS SUGGESTED THAT I
GO BANKRUPT AND I SAID, NO, I
WON'T DO THAT.
WHAT I DID IS I WENT AND SAT
DOWN WITH MY CREDITORS AND WE
WORKED OUT A PLAN AND THIS IS
EXACTLY WHAT'S GOT TO BE DONE
WITH THE BOND RATING AGENCIES,
IS TO WORK OUT A PLAN AND GET
THESE PAYMENTS DOWN AND GET RID
OF THE DEBT AND THEN WE GOT ALL
KINDS OF MONEY TO PUT THAT ON
THE HEALTH CARE AND OTHER
SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. BOURQUE.
60 SECONDS FOR YOU, Mr.
VICKERS.
>> LET'S CRACK THE MYTH THAT WAS
STATED HERE TONIGHT.
Mr. AUSTIN AND Mr. HIGGS ARE
STATING THEY BALANCED THE BUDGET
THIS YEAR, THEY BALANCED THE
BUDGET, ALL RIGHT, WITH A GIFT
FROM OTTAWA, $300 MILLION.
THE REASON Mr. HIGGS NEVER
SAYS THAT HE WILL BALANCE THE
BUDGET IS BECAUSE HE'S NEVER
DONE SO IN HIS LIFE.
NOT AS FINANCE MINISTER AND ONLY
NOW AS PREMIER WITH A GIFT FROM
OTTAWA AND A TRANSFER PAYMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO GROW THE ECONOMY,
NOT ONLY GROW THE ECONOMY, I
WANT TO TRANSFORM THE ECONOMY OF
NEW BRUNSWICK.
AND I'M GOING TO DO THAT WITH A
VERY SPECIFIC FOCUS ON THREE
EMERGING TRENDING SECTORS,
TECHNOLOGY, THE GREEN ECONOMY,
SOLAR, WIND, POWER, AND A ONCE
IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY, A
ONCE IN A GENERATION TIME
OPPORTUNITY FOR US IN SMALL
MODULAR NUCLEAR REACTORS.
THIS WILL BE OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR
NEW BRUNSWICK TO SAVE THE WORLD
AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE HAVE TO REINVEST AND BE
STRATEGIC IN OUR INVESTMENTS IN
OUR PROVINCE.
THIS PREMIER, Mr. BLAINE
HIGGS, HAS DONE THE LEAST OF ANY
PREMIER IN THE PROVINCE --
>> Mr. VICKERS, YOU'RE OUT OF
TIME.
THANK YOU.
60 SECONDS FOR YOU, Mr. COON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE WILL RETURN TO BALANCE WHEN
THE GOOD TIMES RETURN.
RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO SPEND THE
MONEY WHERE IT MATTERS, TO HELP
YOU AND NOT SPEND THE MONEY
WHERE IT DOESN'T MATTER.
THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR PENNY
PINCHING.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS
STEPPED UP TO OFFER US MONEY TO
HELP AND PEOPLE WILL BE SHOCKED
I THINK AT THAT KNOW THAT Mr.
HIGGS HAS LEFT SELL DOLLARS ON
THE TABLE THAT WOULD BE HELP OUR
SENIORS IN NURSING HOMES TO
INCREASE THE FRK SIR OF FAMILIES
WHO ARE BEING RESTRICTED TO
VISITS JUST WONS A MONTH TO
THEIR LOVED ONES.
HE'S LEFT MONEY ON THE TABLE WHO
COULD HELP OUR CITIES WHO ARE
HAVING A TERRIBLE PROBLEM
WEATHERING THIS FISCAL STORM
BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
SO WE WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS TO ENSURE
THAT WE'RE PUTTING THE MONEY
WHERE IT'S NEEDED TO HELP OUR
PEOPLE AND TO HELP OUR CITIES,
AND TO HELP OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
WE WOULDN'T LEAVE IT ON THE
TABLE, WE WOULD MAKE THE
INVESTMENTS NECESSARY NOW, TO
HELP NEW BRUNSWICKERS.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. COON.
WE WILL NOW BEGIN A TWO AND A
HALF MINUTE OPEN DISCUSSION ON
THE TOPIC OF THE DEFICIT.
WE WILL FIRST TURN TO Mr.
AUSTIN.
>> LOOK, THERE'S TO QUESTION, I
MEAN, I AND ANYBODY THAT KNOWS
ME AND KNOWS OUR PARTY POSITION,
I'M A FISCAL HAWK.
I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
HAVE BALANCED BOOKS.
THAT'S WHY I WORKED SO HARD WITH
GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE
FIRST BUDGET THAT WAS PASSED WAS
A BALANCED BUDGET.
BUT THE REALITY WE LIVE IN THE
MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
THE WHOLE GLOBE IS SHAKING FROM
THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN DUE TO
THIS PANDEMIC.
SO I AGREE, IT'S PIE IN THE SKY
IDEAS TO SAY YOU'RE GOING TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET IN THE NEXT
YEAR OR TWO.
IT'S NOT REALISTIC.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO --
>> IT IS SO REALISTIC, IF YOU
DON'T --
AND EVERYBODY KNOWS IT.
THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY YOU'RE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE --
>> THANK YOU --
>> THE GOVERNMENT HAS
$399 MILLION --
IT'S RIDICULOUS.
>> WE'LL LET HIM REPLY, Mr.
VICKERS?
>> SIR, BALANCING THE BUDGET IS
A CORNERSTONE OF LEADERSHIP.
WE HAVE TO HAVE STRATEGIC
PLANNING, INVESTING AND SETTING
OUT WHERE WE'RE HEADING FOR.
WITHOUT AN IDEA OF WHERE WE'RE
HEADING FOR, WITHOUT THAT GOAL
OF A BALANCED BUDGET, WE'RE A
RUDDER LESS SHIP.
WE HAVE TO SET THOSE GOALS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE PLANS IN PLACE
AND WE HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC.
I'VE DONE THIS IN ALL MY
EXECUTIVE CAREER.
I FEEL STRONGLY WHAT WE'RE GOING
TO TO DO WITH THE COVID ECONOMIC
RECOVERY PLAN WHICH I'M GOING TO
INVEST IN IN THE FIRST 30 DAYS
AS PREMIER, BRINGING GREAT
ECONOMIC PEOPLE TOGETHER AND WE
ARE GOING TO GO FORWARD, AND I
CAN TELL YOU AND TELL NEW
BRUNSWICKERS THAT I WILL HAVE A
PLAN TO BRING OUR PROVINCE AND
TRANSFORM OUR ECONOMY.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. VICKERS.
Mr. HIGGS?
>> WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WE
ALREADY HAVE A PLAN.
AND THE PLAN IS WELL IN PLACE.
AND OUR PROVINCE IS RECOVERING
LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
WE'RE SEEING MORE INTEREST IN
NEW BRUNSWICK BEING NUMBER 1 IN
THE NATION, IN THE COVID
EXPERIENCE, BUT WHAT NEW
BRUNSWICKERS ARE DOING TO
ACHIEVE SUCCESS HERE.
WE'RE SEEING INVESTMENT IN OUR
PROVINCE INCREASING.
AND THERE WAS NO MONEY LEFT ON
THE TABLE, Mr. COON.
WE HAVE $218 MILLION THAT WAS
NEGOTIATED FOR THIS PROVINCE,
40 MILLION OF WHICH IS TO
MUNICIPALITIES, 20 MILLION OF
WHICH THEY REPLIED AND IT'S COST
SHARED MONEY FROM THE PROVINCE.
THERE WAS NO MONEY LEFT ON THE
TABLE TO HELP THE SERVICES OF
THIS PROVINCE.
AND AS FOR Mr. VICKERS, WE
HAVE SEEN --
WE HAVE SEEN THE OLD PLAY BOOK,
TAX AND SPEND AND JUST PUT OUT
UNFOUNDED ACCUSATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. --
THANK YOU, Mr. HIGGS.
Mr. COON, LAST WORD TO YOU.
>> YEAH.
SO IN OUR HISTORY, WE RUN
SURPLUSES IN GOOD TIMES AND WE
RUN DEFICITS IN BAD TIMES.
AND WE'RE IN A TOUGH TIME RIGHT
NOW.
SO OF COURSE WE'RE GOING TO BE
RUNNING DEFICITS TO ENSURE THAT
THE NEEDS OF NEW BRUNSWICKERS
ARE MET, THAT PEOPLE ARE KEPT
WHOLE, THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES
CAN SURVIVE SO THEY CAN LIVE TO
THRIVE WHEN WE COME OUT THE
OTHER END OF THIS.
THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
AND DOLLARS ARE BEING LEFT
BEHIND ON THE TABLE.
WE NEED THE FUNDS TO HELP ENSURE
THAT OUR SENIORS LIVING IN OUR
NURSING HOMES ARE ABLE TO BE
REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES ON
A REGULAR BASIS AND THAT THE
TRAINING IS THERE FOR THEIR
DESIGNATED FAMILY CAREGIVER TO
GO BACK IN AND HELP FEED THEM,
HELP WALK THEM AROUND, TOUCH
THEM, REACH THEM AND HELP THEM
GET THROUGH THESE TOUGH TIMES IN
OUR SENIORS HOMES AND OUR
NURSING HOMES.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. COON.
WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM Mr.
THOMASON OR Mr. BOURQUE IN
THAT SESSION BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE
THAT WE GET YOU IN FIRST IN THE
NEXT OPEN DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL BE FOR
PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE LEADER CHRIS
AUSTIN AND IT WILL BE ASKED BY
TOM BATEMAN.
>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR
TAX REFORM AND HOW OVERTAXED NEW
BRUNSWICKERS ARE.
EXACTLY WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO
REDUCE TAXES?
ARE YOU PLANNING TO IGNORE THE
DEBT AND PASS ON THAT BURDEN TO
FUTURE GENERATIONS?
>> I HAVE NO INTENTION OF
IGNORING.
WE CANNOT PAY DOWN THE DEBT NOR
WITH CAN HE RUN BALANCED BUDGETS
UNLESS WE HAVE A THRIVING
ECONOMY.
THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT
IS WORKING, THAT IS MOVING GOOD
PAYING JOBS THAT NEW
BRUNSWICKERS HAVE HERE AT HOME.
LOOK, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SHEER
NUMBERS, THE REALITY IS LIBERAL
AND CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENTS
OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING Mr.
HIGGS AND Mr. VICKERS WHO
WANTS TO BE PREMIER, THE REALITY
IS THEY'RE GOING TO ALLOW
CORPORATE WELFARE TO CONTINUE.
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
GOING TO BIG BUSINESS, INSTEAD
OF REINVESTING THAT MONEY INTO
LOWER TAXES SO ALL BUSINESSES
CAN BENEFIT.
SO NEW BRUNSWICK CAN BE A PLACE
THAT BUSINESSES WANT TO COME,
SET UP AND GROW, WHERE
BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE NOW CAN
HAVE A FAIR CHANCE AND A
FIGHTING CHANCE TO SEE AN
ECONOMY THAT IS PROSPEROUS HERE
IN NEW BRUNSWICK.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE ONE OR THE
OTHER, IF WE KEEP HIGH TAXES, WE
LOSE THE ECONOMIC CHANCE THAT WE
HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. AUSTIN.
YOUR TIME SUPPLEMENT.
THANK YOU.
60 SECONDS FOR Mr. HIGGS.
>> SO IT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, WE
CANNOT HAVE MORE TAXES IN THIS
PROVINCE.
WE SURELY AFTER THE COVID
OUTBREAK WE SAID WE CANNOT
IMPLEMENT TAX REDUCTIONS BECAUSE
WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO DO
SO.
BUT EQUALLY WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE
SINGULAR FOCUS RIGHT NOW AS IT
CONTINUES THROUGH THIS COVID
FOLK CRISIS.
THAT'S WHY I SAID EARLIER ON NO
NEW TAXES AND WE HAVE A PLAN SO
WE CAN MANAGE THAT BUT OUR
PRIORITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE
HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR THE
CITIZENS OF THIS PROVINCE.
WE WILL DEVELOP IN MANY WAYS THE
ECONOMY BASED ON OUR STRATEGY
WITH O NB.
WE ARE WORKING WITH COMPANIES TO
EXPAND WELL BEYOND THE COVID
CRISIS.
WE HAVE FOUND A RENEWED
COMMITMENT BY PEOPLE IN OUR
PROVINCE AND WE'VE FOUND RENEWED
INVESTMENT HERE IN OUR PROVINCE
SO IT'S ABOUT HOW DO WE CREATE
THE MOMENTUM.
THE MOMENTUM IS ALREADY
HAPPENING.
WE'RE SEEING IT ALL OVER THIS
PROVINCE AND I'M EXCITED TO BE
PART OF IT AND EXCITED TO
CONTINUE IT AND TO CONTINUE IT
WE NEED STABILITY IN OUR
PROVINCE, STABILITY THAT WON'T
SHAKEN BY THE POLITICAL PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. HIGGS.
Mr. BOURQUE, 60 SECONDS.
>> YES, Mr. HIGGS JUST MADE A
STATEMENT TWO STEPS BACK THERE
THAT THINGS WERE GOING GOOD AND
THAT HE HAD A PLAN IN PLACE AND
I -- I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE
FOUR PARTY COMMITTEE WAS WORKING
REAL GOOD AND THAT, SO THE
QUESTION I HAVE IS WHY AN
UNWANTED ELECTION AT THIS TIME?
>> THANK YOU, Mr. BOURQUE.
Mr. VICKERS, 60 SECONDS TO
YOU.
>> WHEN I BECOME PREMIER, I AM
GOING TO PUT A LICENCE PLATE ON
THE PROVINCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK
AND NEW BRUNSWICK IS GOING TO
BECOME KNOWN AS A PROVINCE OF
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE ARE GOING TO BREAK DOWN
THE WALLS OF BUREAUCRACY, WE'RE
GOING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES,
WHATEVER IS AT OUR REACH TO
ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENT, REAL
INVESTMENT FROM -- ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND WE HAVE TO DO THAT
THROUGH TAX REFORM.
WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT NEW
BRUNSWICK IS AN INVITING PLACE
FOR COMPANIES AND INVESTORS TO
COME TO INVEST.
SO IN TAX REFORM, WE HAVE TO
MAKE IT AGGRESSIVE.
WE ARE COMPETING AGAINST A
GLOBAL MARKET.
WE ARE COMPETING AGAINST OTHER
PROVINCES AND TO PUT OUR HEADS
IN THE SAND AND YELL AND SCREAM
ABOUT CORPORATE TAXES AND
CORPORATE WELFARE IS NOT GOING
TO GET US THERE.
BUT PREMIER HIGGS I WANT TO
REMIND YOU DURING THIS PANDEMIC
HAS INVESTED THE LEAST IN OUR
ECONOMY, IN SMALL BUSINESSES AND
NOW A GREAT PERCENTAGE OF THOSE
BUSINESSES ARE GOING OUT OF
BUSINESS.
THERE WILL NOT BE TAX ANY FROM
THEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH NEXT
Mr. COON, 60 SECONDS.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR REVENUE
TO PAY FOR OUR PUBLIC SERVICES
EDUCATION, HEALTH AND WELFARE
AND SO ON, IT DOESN'T LINE UP
WITH THE TAX RATES THAT ARE
PLACED ON HEAVY INDUSTRY.
SO WE WOULD CLOSE THE LOOPHOLES
IN THE PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM THAT
HAVE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF TO
ENSURE THAT THE REVENUE IS
COMING INTO OUR PROVINCE, INTO
OUR CITIES WHICH ARE STARVING
FOR REVENUE TO COVER THE COSTS
OF PUBLIC SERVICES THAT NEW
BRUNSWICKERS NEED.
AND WOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT THE
ABILITY OF LARGE COMPANIES TO
SHELTER THEIR PROFITS AND
OFFSHORE TAX HAVENS GETS CLOSED,
BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TAX
RATE ON THE CORPORATE INCOME TAX
FOR THE LARGE COMPANIES, WE'RE
NOT SEEING THE RETURN YOU WOULD
EXPECT BASED ON THAT TAX RATE.
THAT'S GOT TO CHANGE.
SO EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE PAYING
THEIR FAIR SHARE, AND THAT'S
WHAT A GREEN GOVERNMENT WOULD
ABSOLUTELY DO, MAKE SURE
EVERYONE IS PAYING THEIR FAIR
SHARE TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE
PUBLIC SERVICES, THE PEOPLE OF
THIS PROVINCE NEED.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. COON.
FINAL STATEMENT FROM Mr.
THOMASON, 60 SECONDS.
>> THANK YOU, SO I'M GLAD THAT
YOU MENTIONED FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
I'M PART OF THAT FUTURE
GENERATION.
I'M 23 YEARS OLD.
MY AGE GROUP STATISTICALLY
SPEAKING IS LEAVING THE PROVINCE
IN DROVES AND PART OF THAT
REASON IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
I AM GOING TO DISAGREE WITH THE
LIBERALS AND THE CONSERVATIVES
IN THIS CASE.
YOU CAN'T STIMULATE THE ECONOMY
FROM THE TOP DOWN.
IT DOESN'T WORK, IT HASN'T BEEN
WORKING.
IF IT HAD HAVE BEEN WORKING WE
WOULDN'T BE IN THIS MESS WE'RE
IN RIGHT NOW.
AS FAR AS OUR ECONOMY BEING
$14 BILLION AND GROWING IN DEBT
MUCH YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
ECONOMIC RECOVERY, YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT PUTTING THE PEOPLE
OF THIS PROVINCE IN A BETTER
ECONOMIC POSITION.
WHEN YOU GIVE MONEY TO ISSUE,
WHEN YOU GIVE MONEY TO THE
McCAIN, IT DOES NOT TRICKLE
DOWN THROUGH INCREASED WAGES, IT
DOES NOT TRICKLE DOWN THROUGH
INCREASED BENEFITS, THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE AT THE BOTTOM ARE JUST
AS IMPOVERISHED AS JUST AS
DISADVANTAGED WHEN THEY WERE
WHEN THE COMPANIES GOT THAT
MONEY.
SO YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENTLY.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
YOU'RE STIMULATING THE ECONOMY
FROM THE BOTTOM UP.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. THOMASON.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO BEGIN A
THREE-MINUTE OPEN DISCUSSION ON
THE TOPIC AND WE'RE GOING TO
START WITH Mr. BOURQUE.
THE QUESTION IS ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
>> YES.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS VERY
CRITICAL TO THIS PROVINCE AND I
THINK WE REALLY ARE IN A GOOD
POSITION TO HAVE IT DEVELOP
WELL.
WE HAVE SEA PORTS THAT ARE OPEN
YEAR ROUND.
WE HAVE RAILWAY CONNECTIONS TO
MONTREAL AND ALL OF CANADA.
AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET
OUR TAX BASE DOWN A BIT, SO THAT
PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND START
HERE AND STAY HERE AND WE HAVE A
VERY BEAUTIFUL PROVINCE.
I TRAVELLED ALL OVER CANADA --
>> THANK YOU, Mr. BOURQUE.
WE'LL GO NEXT TO Mr. VICKERS.
>> WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN NEW
BRUNSWICK IS WE HAVE TO
TRANSFORM OUR ECONOMIES.
THE OLD WAYS OF DOING THINGS
JUST HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING AND
HAVE NOT BEEN KEEPING US UP TO
BE ABLE TO HAVE THE REVENUES
THAT WE NEED FOR OUR IMPORTANT
SYSTEMS SUCH AS OUR HEALTH CARE
AND EDUCATION.
I HAVE A PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE
ECONOMY OF NEW BRUNSWICK,
FOCUSING ON THREE TRENDING,
EMERGING SECTORS... TECHNOLOGY,
CYBERSECURITY, THE GREEN
ECONOMY, WIND, SOLAR, TILE POWER
AND A ONCE IN A GENERATION
OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THOUSANDS
OF JOBS RIGHT HERE IN OUR
PROVINCE IN SMALL MODULAR
REACTORS.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITIES
THAT --
>> THANK YOU, Mr. VICKERS.
>> THESE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES
THAT WILL DRIVE US FORWARD, GROW
OUR ECONOMY, BRING HOPE AND
OPPORTUNITY TO ALL NEW
BRUNSWICKERS.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. VICKERS.
Mr. AUSTIN, YOU'RE NEXT.
>> THE TAX SYSTEM IN NEW
BRUNSWICK IS ACAR I CAN, IT'S
KILLING BUSINESS, IT'S KILLING
THE ECONOMY.
DID YOU KNOW THAT NEW BRUNSWICK
IS THE ONLY PROVINCE IN THE
COUNTRY THAT CHARGES A DOUBLE
TAX ON NONOWN OCCUPIED
PROPERTIES.
THIS CREATES A TAX BURDEN ON
ANYBODY THAT TRIES TO RUN A
BUSINESS.
IT EVEN TRICKLES DOWN TO
TENANTS, WHICH IS WHY YOU PAY
SOME OF THE HIGHEST RENT IN THE
COUNTRY HERE IN NEW BRUNSWICK,
BECAUSE OF THAT DOUBLE TAX.
NOW, WE MADE GREAT PROGRESS
BECAUSE WE WERE AT THE TABLE
WITH GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE THAT
DOUBLE TAX BY 50%.
THAT'S NOT HAPPENED IN DECADES.
AND THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR
DECADES.
EVEN WHEN Mr. HIGGS WAS THE
FINANCE MINISTER HE DIDN'T DO
IT.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. AUSTIN.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO Mr. COON
NEXT, THANK YOU.
>> WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS UNLEASH
THE POWER OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND
REGIONS BY SUPPORTING THEM WITH
POLICIES AND FUNDING TO ENSURE
THAT THEY CAN PURSUE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR REGION,
ACCORDING TO THEIR PLAN, BASED
ON THEIR GEOGRAPHY, THEIR
CULTURE, THEIR NATURAL ASSETS,
IN THEIR REGION, AND AT THE SAME
TIME ENSURING WE DON'T UNDERMINE
OUR ENVIRONMENT.
THAT IS WHERE WE NEED TO MOVE
FORWARD.
WHEN I TOUR THE PROVINCE I MEET
INCREDIBLE ENTREPRENEUR, PEOPLE
WHO ARE CREATING NONPROFITS AND
SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AS WELL,
CREATIVE, ENERGETIC, NUKE, LET'S
ENTHUSIASTIC, LET'S HELP THEM.
>> THE LAST 60 SECONDS TO YOU,
PLEASE.
>> I WANT TO REITERATE WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC
STIMULUS, IT STARTS FROM THE
BOTTOM UP.
IT DOESN'T GO TOP DOWN.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN PEOPLE, WE
NEED TO INVEST IN COMMUNITIES,
WE NEED TO INVEST IN GREEN
RENEWABLE JOBS.
AND THAT IS HOW YOU STIMULATE
THE ECONOMY.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. THOMASON.
WE NOW MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT
QUESTION.
IT WILL BE ANSWERED BY
PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE LEADER
BLAINE HIGGS AND IT WILL BE
ASKED BY ANDREW WATT.
>> Mr. HIGGS, LIKE EVERY
ELECTION, THE ISSUE OF TRUST HAS
COME UP IN THIS ELECTION.
AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY
THAT SOME NEW BRUNSWICKERS DON'T
TRUST YOU, THAT YOU'RE PLOTTING
THIS PATH FOR NEW BRUNSWICK OF
AUSTERITY AND CUTS.
THEY SAY YOU HAVE A SECRET
AGENDA, TO SLASH HEALTH CARE
SERVICES, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL
NEW BRUNSWICK.
AND IF YOU GET A MAJORITY, YOU
CAN MAKE ANY CHANGES YOU LIKE
WITHOUT HAVING TO CONSULT WITH
ANYBODY.
MY QUESTION IS THIS:  WHY SHOULD
VOTERS TRUST YOU?
>> I'M NOT A NEW FACE HERE.
I'VE BEEN IN POLITICS NOW FOR
TEN YEARS.
BUT I'VE BEEN IN THE PREFER'S
PREMIER'SROLE FOR TWO AND OUR PS
PULLING TOGETHER LIKE IT NEVER
DID BEFORE.
OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS KIND OF
A NEWS FLASH, ONE OF THE FASTEST
ONES IN THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CIVIL
SERVICE AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THIS
PROVINCE, WHICH WAS A GREAT
REASON FOR THE SUCCESS IN
DEALING WITH THE COVID CRISIS
BUT IT GOES MUCH DEEPER THAN
THAT.
IT GOES WITH UNDERSTANDING WHAT
BUSINESSES ARE DOING IN EVERY
SECTOR.
IT GOES WITH WORKING WITH THE
REGIONS TO DEVELOP AN ECONOMIC
CAPABILITY, THAT EACH REGION
PROGRESSES WELL, NOT THROUGH A
PROCESS OF DISTRIBUTION OF
POLITICAL MONEY.
THE IDEA HERE IS THAT PEOPLE
KNOW ME.
SO PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT
I'LL DO, WHAT I WON'T DO.
THEY KNOW ME.
THEY KNOW I'M HERE AT THIS POINT
IN TIME IN MY LIFE.
THEY KNOW MY WIFE AND I ARE
COMMITTED TO THIS PROVINCE.
WE'VE ALWAYS LIVED HERE.
WE WANT A BETTER NEW BRUNSWICK.
I AM TIRED OF THE POLITICAL
GAMES THAT ARE PLAYED EACH AND
EVERY ELECTION.
I'M TIRED OF THE ENDLESS
PROMISES THAT WE SEE WITH NO
RESULTS.
WE HAVE A PLAN THAT'S
GUARANTEEING RESULTS FOR OUR
PROVINCE.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. HIGGS.
NEXT, 60 SECONDS FOR GERALD
BOURQUE.
>> THE THING THAT REALLY LIKE TO
SEE Mr. HIGGS ANSWER IS WHY
WAS THE ELECTION CALLED?
HE JUST GOT DONE SAYING AGAIN
EVERYTHING WAS GOING GOOD AND WE
WERE ADVANCING WAY AHEAD OF
ANYBODY ELSE, BUT ALL OF A
SUDDEN, HE'S THROWING THIS GREAT
DEBT ON --
OF THIS ELECTION ONTO TO US AND
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR HIM ANSWER
WHY HE CALLED THIS ELECTION.
>> Mr. VICKERS, 60 SECONDS.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TWO
YEARS AGO, Mr. HIGGS STOOD
BEFORE YOU AT THESE VERY TYPES
OF PODIUM DEBATES AND HE
PROMISED YOU THAT THERE WOULD BE
NO CUTS TO EDUCATION OR HEALTH
CARE.
HE LOOKED YOU IN THE EYE AND
THEN ONLY A YEAR LATER, HE WENT
AND MADE HIS MOVE, TO ELIMINATE
EMERGENCY ROOM SERVICES, DAY
SURGERIES, ACUTE BEDS IN RURAL
NEW BRUNSWICK.
PREMIER HIGGS, WITH ALL DUE
RESPECT, SIR, YOU'VE LOST THE
TRUST OF NEW BRUNSWICKERS ON THE
HEALTH CARE FILE.
WHAT YOU PROPOSED WAS RECKLESS
AND DAMAGING AND POTENTIALLY
DAMAGING AND ENDANGERING THE
LIVES OF NEW BRUNSWICKERS AND
SIR, YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN.
CALLING AN ELECTION THAT WAS
NEEDED -- THAT WAS NOT NEEDED
NOR WANTED BY NEW BRUNSWICKERS.
YOU ROLLED THE DICE FOR YOUR OWN
POWER GRAB HERE IN THE PROVINCE.
Mr. HIGGS, YOU HAVE LOST THE
TRUST OF NEW BRUNSWICKERS.
YOU WILL NOT REGAIN IT, SIR.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. VICKERS.
60 SECONDS FOR DAVID COON.
>> THANK YOU.
WELL, Mr. HIGGS KEEPS SAYING
HE'S ON A MISSION TO SAVE NEW
BRUNSWICK.
AND THAT HE'S GOT A PLAN.
BUT IT MUST BE A SECRET PLAN
BECAUSE NO ONE'S SEEN IT AND HE
WON'T TELL US WHAT IT IS.
SO MY QUESTION IS:  IS THIS A
PLAN FOR FURTHER PRIVATIZING
HEALTH CARE IN NEW BRUNSWICK,
LIKE THE LIBERALS DID WHEN THEY
WERE IN POWER LAST?
OR IS THIS A PLAN TO PRIVATIZE
NB LIQUOR OR IS THIS A PLAN TO
SELL OFF PROVINCIAL PARKS, OR TO
DO OTHER KINDS OF PRIVATIZATION
IN NEW BRUNSWICK?
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW.
WHAT EXACTLY IS Mr. HIGGS'
SECRET PLAN?
HE WON'T TELL US.
I'VE HEARD HIM INTERVIEWED TIME
AND TIME AGAIN AND I'VE LISTENED
CAREFULLY ON HIS MISSION TO SAVE
NEW BRUNSWICK, HE SAYS HE'S GOT
A PLAN, IT'S TIME THAT HE
REVEALS THAT PLAN AND STOP
KEEPING IT SECRET FROM THE
PEOPLE OF THIS PROVINCE, SO
EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE
VOTING FOR WHEN THEY VOTE FOR
Mr. HIGGS.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. COON.
60 SECONDS FOR MacKENZIE
THOMASON.
>> THANK YOU, SO WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT TRUST I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT VERY IMPORTANT TO
POINT OUT THAT NEW BRUNSWICK
FLIP FLOPS BACK AND FORTH
BETWEEN LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE
ELECTION AFTER ELECTION.
I'M 23 YEARS OLD AND I CAN'T
REMEMBER REALLY A TIME WHEN WE
DIDN'T HAVE ONE-TERM GOVERNMENT.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT
THAT THE REASON Mr. --
Mr. HIGGS BROUGHT IT UP THE
REASON WE HAVE ENDLESS PROMISE
WAS NO RESULTS IS WE KEEP
ELECTING THE SAME TWO PARTIES
WHO KEEP PROMISING US THINGS AND
GIVE US NO RESULTS.
A MINORITY GOVERNMENT HAS SHOWN
WHEN YOU HAVE THIRD PARTIES IN
THE LEGISLATURE THEY ARE ABLE TO
INFLUENCE DECISION MAKE, KEEP
THE BIG PARTIES' FEET TO THE
FIRE AND THEY ARE ABLE TO GIVE
NEW BRUNSWICKERS EXPERIENCED
RESULTS.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY THERE'S
NO RESULTS, THAT IS --
THAT'S THE ONLY ANSWER.
WE KEEP ELECTING GOVERNMENTS WHO
EITHER DON'T CARE OR WHO ARE TOO
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED TO
ENTHUSIASTICALLY GO AFTER THINGS
THAT NEW BRUNSWICKERS NEED AND
THAT NEW BRUNSWICKERS ALREADY
PAY FOR WHEN THEY GIVE THEIR
TAXES.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. THOMASON.
OUR FINAL 60 SECOND STATEMENT
WILL BE FOR KRIS AUSTIN.
>> I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH THE NDP
LEADER.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
LOOK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE
EVIDENCE IS CLEAR, MAJORITY
GOVERNMENTS DO WHAT THEY WANT
AND YOU PAY THE CONSEQUENCES.
YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT HEALTH
CARE SPECIFICALLY.
I MEAN, Mr. HIGGS MET WITH THE
CEO OF HORIZON, THE CEO OF --
THEY BOTH GAVE THE SAME MESSAGE
THAT THESE HOSPITALS NEEDED TO
BE CLOSED.
Mr. HIGGS THOUGHT IT WAS A
GREAT IDEA.
HE COME OUT AND HE PUSHED THE
CLOSURE OF THESE HOSPITALS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU SOMETHING,
WITHOUT ANY SHADOW OF A DOUBT,
IF IT 4 BEEN A MAJORITY
GOVERNMENT THERE'S NO QUESTION
THOSE HOSPITALS WOULD INDEED BE
CLOSED.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.
NOW, I AM CONVINCED THAT UNTIL
NEW BRUNSWICK COMES UNDER A
PLACE WHERE WE HAVE HORIZON AND
METALITE UNDER ONE SYSTEM WHERE
THEY CAN SHARE RESOURCES, WORK
TOGETHER, WHETHER IT'S NURSES,
DOCTORS OR EQUIPMENT, WE CANNOT
KEEP TWO SYSTEMS AFLOAT AND
POSSIBLY EXPECT TO HAVE GOOD
HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYBODY.
WE NEED ONE SYSTEM AND THAT'S
WHAT WE PUSHED FOR AND THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
FIGHT FOR.
>> YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.
WE'RE NOW GOING TO BEGIN A
THREE-MINUTE OPEN DISCUSSION ON
THE TOPIC OF HEALTH CARE AND WE
WILL FIRST TURN TO MacKENZIE
THOMASON TO GET US STARTED.
>> THANK YOU.
SOO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND HEALTH CARE IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE TO NEW
BRUNSWICKERS RIGHT NOW.
THEY ARE WORRIED THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR
SURGERIES, THEY'RE WORRIED
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
HEALTH CARE EMERGENCIES DON'T
HAPPEN BETWEEN 8 AND 5 ONLY.
THEY HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.
AND IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THIS
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN PUTTING
HEALTH CARE AT THE BOTTOM OF
THEIR PRIORITY LIST.
THEY DON'T WANT TO FUND CLINIC
554.
THEY DON'T WANT TO FUND LGBTQ
PLUS HEALTH CARE AND THEY DON'T
WANT TO FUND EMERGENCY ROOMS
OVERNIGHT.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IF THIS
GOVERNMENT IS RE-ELECTED TO A
MAJORITY, WE WILL SEE MASSIVE
CUTS TO HEALTH CARE, NO
QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. THOMASON.
NEXT, BLAINE HIGGS.
>> SO THE FEAR MONGERING
CONTINUES.
THERE NEVER WAS A PLAN TO CLOSE
HOSPITALS.
THERE WAS A CHANGE IN E-RES,
WHICH WE'VE SAID, THAT WAS A
MISTAKE AND WE'RE NOT DOING
THAT.
THERE NEVER WAS A PLAN TO CLOSE
HOSPITALS.
OUR PLAN IS VERY CHEER.
WE PUT IT FORWARD IN A BUDGET
BACK IN MARCH.
THIS IS THE CLEAREST PLAN THAT'S
IN THIS CAMPAIGN.
THERE ARE NO EMPTY PROMISES.
THEY'RE COSTED, THEY'RE LAID OUT
AND IT'S CLEAR SO ANYONE WHO
THINKS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A
PLAN, IT WAS PRODUCED SIX MONTHS
AGO AND THOSE HAVE BEEN THE
ANNOUNCEMENTS WE'VE BEEN
FOLLOWING.
THEN IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT
WHY ARE WE IN AN ELECTION, THREE
WEEKS AGO I TRIED TO EMULATE THE
COVID CABINET EXPERIENCE IN BIG
ISSUES LIKE HEALTH CARE THAT'S
AFFECTING OUR PROVINCE AND WE WE
WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE
SUCCESS.
BUT KEVIN VICKERS AND THE
LIBERAL PARTY WALKED OUT.
THEY WERE A NO-SHOW AFTER TWO
DAYS OF INTENSE DISCUSSIONS THEY
WALKED AWAY.
>> HE'S PARTIALLY RIGHT THERE.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. HIGGS.
Mr. AUSTRALIA SENTENCE.
>> Mr. HIGGS, YOU'RE PARTIALLY
RIGHT THERE, YOU ARE CORRECT.
Mr. VICKERS WALKED OUT.
BUT THE REALITY WAS MYSELF AND
Mr. COON WAS HERE AND WE WERE
BOTH WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU TO
CREATE THAT STABILITY.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CONVINCE ME
OR NEW BRUNSWICKERS THAT THIS IS
NOTHING MORE THAN A POWER GRAB,
SO YOU CAN GO BACK TO MAJORITY
GOVERNMENTS WITHOUT ANY
ACCOUNTABILITY OR WITHOUT HAVING
TO RESPOND TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW
BRUNSWICK ON THE BAD DECISIONS
THAT MAJORITY GOVERNMENTS MAKE.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. HIGGS.
QUICKLY --
>> I'LL RESPOND TO THAT AND I
UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING,
BUT Mr. COON HAS NEVER BEEN
RELIABLE IN SUPPORT.
WE KNOW THAT.
THERE WAS SUPPORT AT THE BUDGET
TIME BUT THAT WAS ONLY A
ONE-TIME BASICALLY.
SO THERE WASN'T AN ABILITY --
THERE WASN'T AN ABILITY TO HAVE
CONTINUITY OR STABILITY FOR THIS
PROVINCE, WHICH WE NEED IN THIS
PANDEMIC AND AN ECONOMIC
RECOVERY PLAN THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> WHAT --
>> THANK YOU, Mr. COON?
>> WHAT Mr. HIGGS IS SAYING IS
DEMOCRACY IS HARD WORK AND HE
DOESN'T WANT TO DO THE HARD WORK
OF DEMOCRACY AND THE PEOPLE OF
THIS PROVINCE WANT US TO WORK
HARD AT MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK.
THAT'S WHAT I HEAR HIM SAYING.
WHEN HE SAYS STABILITY, HE MEANS
HE DOESN'T WANT THE DEMOCRATIC
PROCESS TO WORK.
HE WANTS TO HAVE A MAJORITY
GOVERNMENT TO DELIVER WHATEVER
HIS SECRET PLAN IS TO SAVE NEW
BRUNSWICK AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
THAT IS.
SO WE ALL NEED TO BE VERY
WORRIED.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. COON.
LAST WORD TO Mr. VICKERS?
>> WITH RESPECT, Mr. HIGGS,
YOU'VE LOST CREDIBILITY, YOU'VE
LOST TRUST OF NEW BRUNSWICK WHEN
IT COMES TO THE HEALTH CARE OF
OUR CITIZENS.
WHAT YOU DID TWO YEARS AGO,
LOOKING NEW BRUNSWICKERS IN THE
EYE AND PROMISING THEM AS YOU
ARE TONIGHT, THAT YOU WOULD NOT
MAKE THOSE CUTS AND TURN AROUND
AND DO IT, I'M SORRY, SIR, AND
SPEAKING OF THAT, WE KNOW THAT
THERE'S A PLAN TO HEALTH CARE
CUTS AND I ASK YOU TONIGHT,
Mr. HIGGS, TO BE HONEST AND
FORTHRIGHT WITH NEW BRUNSWICKERS
AND TELL THEM EXACTLY WHAT THOSE
CUTS ARE IN YOUR PLAN 2 OF THAT
THING.
Mr. HARRY FORESTELL, STEVE
MURPHY ASKED YOU A QUESTION AND
YOU DID NOT ANSWER IT THE LAST
TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW.
WHY DO YOU NEED A MAJORITY
GOVERNMENT THAT YOU CAN'T DO
WITH A MINORITY GOVERNMENT IS IN
>> WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR
NEXT PANEL QUESTION FOR KISS
PARTY LEADER GERALD BOURQUE AND
IT WILL BE ASKED BY TOM BATEMAN.
>> Mr. BOURQUE YOU, SAY YOUR
PARTY IS ABOUT SIMPLE SOLUTIONS.
AND HEALTH CARE HAS COME UP
ALREADY SEVERAL TIMES TONIGHT.
WHAT IS THE SIMPLE WAY YOU
PROPOSE WE FIX NEW BRUNSWICK'S
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM?
>> I STATED EARLIER THAT I
WORKED ON A VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE
SERVICE IN STANLEY FOR 25 YEARS.
WHEN WE WENT TO GET IT STARTED
WE SAID WE WOULD NEVER GET IT SO
I DO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN HEALTH
CARE.
I UNFORTUNATELY HAD ALLERGIES
AND STUFF SO I GOT SOME
EXPERIENCE AT PROPER TREATMENT
IN ONE THING AND ANOTHER.
AND I GOT ALLERGIC TO IRON AND I
WENT TO A HOMEOPATHIC DOCTOR AND
THE HOMEOPATHIC DOCTOR CHECKED
ME OVER AND SAID, YOU GOT A
BLOCKAGE BETWEEN YOUR LIVER,
YOUR GALLSTONE --
YOUR GALLBLADDER AND YOUR KIDNEY
AND SHE SAID I CAN FIX IT.
I SAID FIX IT.
AND ONE TREATMENT.
AND THINGS STARTED WORKING
PROPERLY.
AND IT TOOK ME 14 YEARS WHEN
EVERY MONTH GOT A NEEDLE, WENT
BACK AND GOT BLOOD TESTS AND ALL
THAT AND THEN IT TURNED AROUND
AND ONE TREATMENT FOR THAT AND I
HAVEN'T HAD TO TAKE B12 IN THE
LAST EIGHT MONTHS.
THERE'S BETTER WAYS.
A LITTLE DIFFERENT ANGLE TO DO
IT.
>> THANK YOU Mr. BOURQUE FOR
YOUR STORY.
NEXT WE HAVE KEVIN VICKERS, 60
SECOND, PLEASE, ON HEALTH CARE.
>> ON HEALTH CARE, OBVIOUSLY I
AM COMMITTING TO NEW
BRUNSWICKERS THAT HEALTH CARE IS
THE VIOLATES CORNERSTONE OF OUR
SOCIETY.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AFTER OUR
CHILDREN, OUR ELDERLY AND ALL
OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS NEW
BRUNSWICK.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT BIG
MUNICIPALITIES OF NEW BRUNSWICK,
WE ALSO HAVE A RURAL NEW
BRUNSWICK TO CARE ABOUT.
BUT CENTRAL TO THOSE RURAL
HOSPITALS, WHAT PEOPLE DON'T
OFTEN THINK, THIS IS AN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORNERSTONE.
WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF THOSE
RURAL HOSPITALS IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES, THERE IS NO HOPE OF
INCOMING POPULATION GROWTH,
THERE'S NO HOPE OF INVESTMENT.
THESE RURAL HOSPITALS PROVIDE A
CRITICAL SERVICE TO THE HEALTH H
AND WELFARE OF THEIR CITIZENS
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY AND JUST AS
IMPORTANTLY THEY'RE AN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PIECE TO ENSURE HOPE
AND OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. VICKERS.
NEXT 60 SECOND FOR DAVID COON.
>> THANK YOU.
WELL, THE OVERPARTIES HAVE GOT
TO STOP USING HEALTH CARE AS A
POLITICAL FOOTBALL.
THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A WAY
TOO LONG AND WE'RE NOT MAKING
ANY PROGRESS.
EVERY TIME I MEET WITH DOCTORS,
THEY HAVE GREAT IDEAS OF WHAT WE
NEED TO DO TO HELP SOLVE OUR
HEALTH CARE CHALLENGES.
WHEN I MEET WITH NURSES AND
NURSE PRACTITIONERS, GREAT IDEAS
ON HOW TO SOLVE OUR HEALTH CARE
PROBLEMS.
MEET WITH PHARMACISTS, THEY HAVE
GOOD IDEAS ON HOW TO SOLVE OUR
HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS.
WE NEED TO GET EVERYONE AROUND
THE TABLE TO COME TO AN
AGREEMENT ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD
ON REFORMING HEALTH CARE IN A
SERIOUS WAY.
I PROPOSED THIS TO THE LEADERS
OF THE OTHER TWO TRADITIONAL
PARTIES, THAT WE CREATE A
COMMITTEE AT THE LEGISLATIVE
ASSEMBLY THAT IN PUBLIC ALL OF
US WILL WORK TOGETHER SO PEOPLE
COULD LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT OUR
CHALLENGES ARE, WHAT THE
SOLUTIONS ARE AS WE HEAR FROM
PEOPLE FROM WITHIN THE HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM, FROM EXPERTS
OUTSIDE, AND THEN PUT FORWARD
THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND
IMPLEMENT THEM.
AS STRAIGHTFORWARD AS THAT.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. COON.
NEXT 60 SECONDS FOR
MacKENZIE THOMASON.
>> SO I THINK IT'S A COMPLICATED
ISSUE.
NO ONE IS PRETENDING THAT HEALTH
CARE IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING
TO BE FIXED OVERNIGHT.
BUT I THINK IT GOES BACK TO,
AGAIN, WE NEED TO STOP ELECTING
GOVERNMENTS WHO EITHER DON'T SEE
IT AS A PRIORITY OR WHO JUST
DON'T THINK THAT NEW
BRUNSWICKERS DESERVE HEALTH
CARE.
THIS GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE NOW
THREATENED TO CLOSE OVERNIGHT
E-Rs.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THAT WILL
BE ON THE TABLE AGAIN, DESPITE
WHAT THE PREMIER SAYS.
HE HAS REFUSED TO FUND CLINIC
554, BUSINESS NOT A PRIVATE
CLINIC.
IT ALSO OFFERS FAMILY DOCTORS
APPOINTMENTS AND IT OFFERS LGBTQ
PLUS HEALTH CARE.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT
STATISTICS I GO TO IS THAT
30,000 NEW BRUNSWICKERS ARE
WITHOUT A FAMILY DOCTOR.
AND HOW DOES THE PREMIER FIND IT
CONSCIONABLE TO CLOSE A FAMILY
CLINIC WHEN THERE ARE 30,000 NEW
BRUNSWICKERS ALREADY ON A
WAITING LIST?
TO ME THAT IS ABSOLUTELY
DISGUSTING.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE.
AND TO FIX HEALTH CARE, YOU NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
UNDERFUNDING THAT HAS BEEN
PREVALENT IS TOPPED UP.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. THOMASON.
ONE MINUTE FOR KRIS AUSTIN.
>> YOU KNOW, NEW BRUNSWICK HAS A
POPULATION OF ABOUT 750,000
PEOPLE.
IF YOU TAKE THE POPULATION OF
NEW BRUNSWICK, IT'S LIKE A
MEDIUM-SIZED CITY ON A GLOBAL
LEVEL, SPREAD OUT OVER THE
GEOGRAPHY THAT WE SEE HERE IN
THIS PROVINCE.
AND WITH SUCH A SMALL
POPULATION, WE CONTINUE TO PROP
UP TWO HEALTH AUTHORITIES THAT
COMPETE WITH ONE ANOTHER ON
RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S NURSES,
DOCTORS, EQUIPMENT, FUNDING, YOU
NAME IT.
I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE
CONTINUE TO DO THAT, WHY LIBERAL
AND CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENTS
CONTINUE TO STICK THEIR HAND IN
THE SAND AND FOR ONE REASON
ONLY, LANGUAGE.
NOW, LOOK, I'M CONVINCED THAT
FRENCH HOSPITALS WILL CONTINUE
TO BE FRENCH, HORIZON WILL
CONTINUE TO OFFER BILINGUAL
SERVICE AS WILL VITALTE UNDER
ONE SYSTEM, WHERE NEW
BRUNSWICKERS CAN GET THE SAME
LEVEL OF CARE, IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHERE YOU GO IN THIS PROVINCE.
THAT IS PARAMOUNT TO HEALTH CARE
SUCCESS, UNTIL WE DO THAT, WE
WILL NOT SEE SUCCESS IN HEALTH
CARE.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. AUSTIN.
YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.
LAST 60 SECONDS STATEMENT IS
FROM BLAINE HIGGS.
>> SO WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH THE
COVID EXPERIENCE, WE HAVE SEEN
UNPRECEDENTED COOPERATION
BETWEEN VITALTE AND HORIZON.
WE HAVE SEEN DECISIONS MADE BY
TASKFORCE QUICKLY.
WE HAVE SEEN THE ABILITY TO HAVE
SPECIAL AREAS THAT CAN DELIVER
RESULTS IN A QUICK FASHION.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HIP AND KNEE
SURGERY, THAT WE CAN DO AND
REDUCE THE WAIT TIMES.
WE HAVE SEEN PRIMARY CARE NOW
BEING OFFERED THROUGH VIRTUAL
CARE.
AND THAT WASN'T EVEN A FACTOR
YEARS AGO OR IN THE LAST NUMBER
OF YEARS, VERY DIFFICULT TO
IMPLEMENT.
BUT THROUGH COVID IT HAPPENED.
WE KNOW WE CAN ENGAGE PEOPLE
AROUND THIS PROVINCE TO GET
BETTER HEALTH CARE, BUT WE CAN'T
IGNORE IT.
WE HAVE AN ISSUE HERE, RISING IN
OUR PROVINCE IN TERMS OF THE
DEMOGRAPHIC WHERE WE HAVE HUGE
CHALLENGES BUT YET WE CONTINUE
TO PLAY THE POLITICAL GAMES IN
THE SYSTEM AND WE CAN'T TALK
ABOUT THIS OR THE OTHER THING.
I'VE COMMITTED THAT WE ARE NOT
CLOSING HOSPITALS, BUT WE WILL
WORK WITH COMMUNITIES TO DELIVER
BETTER HEALTH CARE, ALL OVER
THIS PROVINCE.
BECAUSE WE MUST --
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN
IGNORE.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO IGNORE IT.
BECAUSE WE WANT HEALTH CARE
PROTECTED BUT WE CAN PLAY THE
FEAR GAMES AND WE CAN PLAY THE
INNUENDOS OR THE TALKING POINTS
THAT LIBERALS ARE SO GOOD AT --
>> YOU'RE OUT OF TIME, SIR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TWO AND A
HALF MINUTE OPEN DISCUSSION ON
HEALTH CARE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH
KEVIN VICKERS.
>> WELL, HEALTH CARE IS
OBVIOUSLY, AGAIN, A CORNERSTONE
OF OUR SOCIETY.
IT'S ALL ABOUT ENSURING THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AFTER ONE ANOTHER,
CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND
ESPECIALLY OUR ELDERLY.
WHAT I ENVISION FOR NEW
BRUNSWICK, AGAIN, IS A COMMUNITY
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FROM ACROSS
THE PROVINCE, NORTHEAST,
SOUTHWEST, WHERE WE CAN REALLY,
REALLY CONCENTRATE ON PROVIDING
GREAT COMMUNITY SERVICE.
YOU KNOW, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF
TRAVELLING AROUND THE PROVINCE
AND YOU GO TO THESE SMALL
COMMUNITIES WHERE WE HAVE NURSE
PRACTITIONERS WITH LARGE
PRACTICES, WORKING HAND-IN-HAND
WITH OUR COMMUNITY DOCTORS, OUR
DOCTORS AT HOSPITALS AND WHAT WE
HAVE TO DO IS TAKE THOSE BEST
PRACTICES AND GET THEM FULFILLED
ACROSS THE PROVINCE.
>> THANK YOU.
KRIS AUSTIN?
>> YES, I JUST WANT TO --
REMEMBER JUST A FEW YEARS AGO
WHEN WE HEARD IN THE HEADLINES
AND IN THE NEWSPAPERS AND CBC
AND OUR NEWS OUTLETS ABOUT THE
HONG WAIT TIMES FOR PARAMEDICS
AND AMBULANCES IN RURAL AREAS
AND HOW BIG OF AN ISSUE THAT
WAS.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO ENHANCE THAT
WITH RESPONSE TIMES FOR
AMBULANCES IN RURAL AREAS,
BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES WE MADE
TO ALLOW PARAMEDICS TO ACTUALLY
DO THE JOB THAT THEY'RE TRAINED
TO DO AND TAKE THE LANGUAGE OUT
OF THE EQUATION, SO LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT
VIRTUAL CARE WE THIS GOVERNMENT
IS TAKING FUNDING AWAY FROM
VIRTUAL CARE --
>> THANK YOU, Mr. AUSTIN.
DAVID COON?
THANK YOU.
>> ONE OF THE REMARKABLE THINGS
THAT NEITHER THE LIBERALS OR THE
CONSERVATIVES WERE ABLE TO
ACHIEVE IS TO GET OFF THE POT ON
HEALTH CARE.
SO HERE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
PHARMACISTS HAVE A TREMENDOUS
SCOPE OF PRACTICE.
THEY CAN DO DIAGNOSIS FOR MINOR
AILMENTS AND PRESCRIBE MEDICINE
TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS.
BUT THEY'RE NOT COVERED UNDER
MEDICARE TO DO THAT.
AND IF THEY COULD BE COVERED
UNDER MEDICARE TO DO THAT, WE
WOULD SEE PEOPLE LEAVE THE
E-Rs AND GO TO THEIR
PHARMACIST FOR ALL KINDS OF
MINOR AILMENTS THAT COULD BE
TREATED WELL BY THEIR
PHARMACIST.
BUT NEITHER THIS GOVERNMENT OR
THE PREVIOUS ONE WERE ABLE TO
ACHIEVE THAT, SIMPLE --
>> THANK YOU, Mr. COON.
LAST WORD TO BLAINE HIGGS, 20
SECONDS.
>> I THINK THE NEWS FLASH HERE,
WE'VE STARTED THE NURSE
PRACTITIONERS TO BE PART OF OUR
HEALTH CARE STRATEGY, IN THREE
MAJOR CITIES IN THE PROVINCE.
THAT IS TO DEAL WITH THE WAIT
TIMES.
THE VIRTUAL CARE IS ANOTHER WAY
TO DEAL WITH THE WAIT TIMES.
PHARMACISTS ARE ANOTHER WAY TO
DEAL WITH THE WAIT TIMES.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE RURAL --
>> WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE
TO DEAL WITH IT --
>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME EVERYONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'RE MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT
QUESTION.
IT WILL BE ASKED BY TOM BATEMAN
AND DIRECTED TOWARD LIBERAL
LEADER KEVIN VICKERS.
TOM?
>> Mr. VICKERS, YOU SAY YOU'RE
COMMITTED TO GROWING THE GREEN
ECONOMY AND THAT YOU'RE SERIOUS
ABOUT ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE.
YOU ALSO SUPPORTED MARITIME
IRON'S PROPOSAL FOR A NEW PLANT
IN BALDOON.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SINGLE
BIGGEST POLLUTER IN NEW
BRUNSWICK.
WHY SHOULD VOTERS TAKE YOUR
GREEN CREDENTIALS SERIOUSLY?
>> POLLUTION KNOWS NO
BOUNDARIES.
CARBON EMISSIONS KNOWS NO
BOUNDARIES.
WHAT THE KEY ISSUE HERE IS OUR
CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN AND
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET OUR
CARBON EMISSIONS DOWN TO A
SUSTAINABLE LEVEL, WHICH WILL
GIVE THEM A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
YES, MARITIME IRON WILL BE A
HEAVY INDUSTRIAL POLLUTER.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU DO THE IMPERIAL
EVIDENCE AND YOU FIND OUT THAT
IF WE CONTINUE ON THE WAY THE
PROCESSING THE ORE THAT WOULD GO
THERE NOW OVER TO CHINA IN
ANTIQUATED SMELTERS, THE CARBON
FOOTPRINT THAT THAT'S LEAVING IS
MUCH HIGHER, SO RIGHT NOW OVER
IN PARIS, WE HAVE OUR CLIMATE
CHANGE PEOPLE TOGETHER, COMING
UP WITH A CREDIT SYSTEM AND I
BELIEVE IN THAT SYSTEM, BECAUSE
OVERALL, IF WE HAVE A MODERN
FUNCTIONING SMELTER UP IN
BALDOON, PERHAPS POWERED BY
SMALL MODULAR REACTOR, THE
CARBON EMISSIONS ARE GOING TO BE
FAR LESS GLOBALLY.
TO ME --
>> THANK YOU, Mr. VICKERS,
YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.
THANK YOU.
Mr. COON, 60 SECONDS.
>> WELL, CLEARLY, MARITIME IRON
WOULD HAVE ELIMINATED ALL OF THE
PROGRESS WE'VE MADE TO DATE ON
REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS IN NEW
BRUNSWICK.
IT WAS GOING TO BURN COAL --
COAX.
VERY POLLUTING.
SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MOVE
FORWARDONED TRANSITION TO FULLY
RENEWABLE ECONOMY IN NEW
BRUNSWICK OVER THE NEXT 15
YEARS, WHICH IS COMPLETELY
ACHIEVABLE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT, ONE, IT'S
NOT BEEN A PRIORITY OF EITHER
THE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT OR
THE FORMER LIBERAL GOVERNMENT TO
DRIVE FORWARD ON RENEWABLE
ENERGY.
IT'S AFFORDABLE, THE TECHNOLOGY
IS WELL ESTABLISHED.
THERE'S NOTHING --
NOTHING RISKY ABOUT IT.
AND IT'S WHERE THE REST OF THE
WORLD HAS BEEN GOING AND WE'VE
BEEN HELD BACK IN 2005, WHEN I
WAS IN PARIS FOR THE CLIMATE
SUMMIT I WAS AMAZED AT WHERE THE
WORLD IS GOING AND HOW FAR
BEHIND WE ARE AND GREENS WOULD
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A
RENEWABLE FUTURE IN THIS
PROVINCE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
ALL THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
AROUND THAT.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. COON.
60 SECONDS FOR MacKENZIE
THOMASON.
>> SO I THINK WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT A GREEN TRANSITION AND A
RENEWABLE TRANSITION, IT'S
SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN
BASICALLY YESTERDAY.
IT'S ALREADY TOO LATE.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
INVESTMENTS IN GREEN TECHNOLOGY,
IN GREEN ENERGY, YOU ALSO NEED
TO TALK ABOUT EDUCATIONAL
TRAINING.
A LOT OF THESE JOBS THAT ARE
GOING TO BE CREATED THROUGH A
TRANSITION TO A GREEN ECONOMY,
WHICH IS SOMETHING THE NDP HAS
IN THEIR PLATFORM, YOU'RE ALSO
GOING TO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT A LOT OF THESE JOBS ARE
GOING TO BE UNIVERSITY REQUIRED
DEGREES, OR AT LEAST SOME FORM
OF FORMAL TRAINING.
AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WITHOUT
TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GOING
TO GET PEOPLE TO THE POINT WHERE
THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN CREATING
THOSE JOBS, THAT'S WHERE I THINK
THESE OTHER PARTIES FALL SHORT.
YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU
HAVE A WELL FUNDED
POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION SYSTEM
AND YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO ALL SO THEY
CAN GO FORWARD AND CREATE THESE
GREEN JOBS, BECAUSE AGAIN IT'S
ABOUT BUILDING FROM THE BOTTOM
UP.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. THOMASON.
KRIS AUSTIN?
>> THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT NEW
BRUNSWICK HAS TO MOVE TOWARDS A
GREEN ECONOMY.
THE REALITY IS FOSSIL FUELS, YOU
KNOW AT SOME POINT HAVE TO BE
PHASED OUT AND WE HAVE TO WORK
INTO THE NEW ERA OF ENERGY.
BUT I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT
TAXING ORDINARY CITIZENS TO HELP
PAY FOR THIS ENERGY TRANSITION
IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE
NEED TO GIVE INCENTIVE FOR
PEOPLE TO USE RENEWABLE ENERGY
IN THEIR HOMES, IN THEIR
BUSINESSES.
I THINK GOVERNMENTS HAVE TO
BEGIN TO LOOK TOWARDS AIR, WIND,
SOLAR AND TIDAL POWER TO ENSURE
THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT
WE NEED AS WE GO FORWARD.
BUT IT CAN'T BE A HARD CUTS
KUT-OFF, IT HAS TO BE A
TRANSITION PERIOD AND I DON'T
BELIEVE IN TAXING ORDINARY
RESIDENTS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. AUSTIN.
BLAINE HIGGS, 60 SECONDS.
>> WE SIGNED AN MOU --
THE CONCEPT IS CLEAN CARBON
REDUCTION, NO CARBON EMISSIONS
AND IF THAT IS AN ENERGY
SOLUTION THAT WILL MEET THE
NEEDS OF WORLD DEMAND.
IT'S AN ENERGY SOLUTION THAT NEW
BRUNSWICK CAN EXPORT IN HUGE
WAYS AND WE ALREADY HAVE A
FOOTPRINT HERE IN OUR PROVINCE
TO BUILD AND PROMOTE THAT
TECHNOLOGY.
SO IT'S NOT A PIE IN THE SKY.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT'S BEEN
WORKED ON NOW.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND HAVE A FUNDING
RELATIONSHIP THERE FOR THE NEXT
MOVE IN THIS PROJECT.
WE HAVE TIME LINES, MILESTONES
ALL WORKED OUT.
THIS IS NOT A NEWS FLASH THAT
Mr. VICKERS WOULD PRETEND THAT
IT IS.
THIS IS A PROCESS THAT'S BEEN
UNDERWAY FOR FIVE TO SIX YEARS
AND ENHANCED IN THE LAST TWO
YEARS.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. HIGGS.
FINAL STATEMENT FROM GERALD
BOURQUE, 60 SECONDS.
>> I THINK THERE'S A SEGMENT OF
THE ECONOMY THAT IS BEING
OVERLOOKED.
THESE PEOPLE ARE ALL LOOKING AT
BIG PROJECTS AND YES, THEY'RE
VALUABLE.
BUT WHAT I --
OUR PARTY HAS COME UP WITH IS
THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A SMALL
GROUP OF PEOPLE, LIKE TO HELP
BUSINESSES GET STARTED AND IF
YOU'RE GOING TO START A
BUSINESS, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS,
YOU COME INTO THE GOVERNMENT AND
THEY HELP YOU GET YOUR BOOKS SET
UP RIGHT, THEN THEY GIVE YOU
PEOPLE TO DO MARKETING AND SEE
WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO
MARKET, AND DESIGN AND ALL THAT
TYPE OF STUFF, THAT THESE SMALL
PEOPLE CAN'T DO AND YOU WOULD
HAVE A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES
THAT WOULD START AND PROSPER
REAL GOOD BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
THEY LACK.
SOME OF THEM'S GOT REALLY GOOD
IDEAS BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE
ROUNDED OUT SYSTEM TO REALLY
MAKE IT MARKET AND THIS ISth
TYPE OF A SYSTEM WOULD REALLY
HELP.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. BOURQUE.
WE'RE NOW GOING TO DO A TWO AND
A HALF MINUTE DISCUSSION ON THE
ENVIRONMENT AND WE'LL START WITH
DAVID COON.
>> THIS IS RIMNESS INCIDENT OF
THE HATFIELD DAYS WHEN RICHARD
HATFIELD SPOKE ABOUT HOW
BUILDING SIX CANDU NUCLEAR
REACTORS IN NEW BRUNSWICK WAS
GOING TO BE THE SALVATION OF THE
PROVINCE.
WE HAVE POINT LEPREAU WHICH
GENERATED HUGE NUCLEAR WASTE
WITH YOU NOW Mr. HIGGS AND
Mr. VICKERS WANT TO MINE TO
CREATE PLUTONIUM TO FUEL NUCLEAR
REACTOR THAT IS JUST AN IDEA ON
A LAPTOP RIGHT NOW AND IS GOING
TO TAKE BUCKETS OF TAXPAYERS
MONEY TO GET ONTO THE WORK BENCH
IN THE LAB.
SO WE HAVE RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGY
THAT'S PROVEN, IT'S AFFORDABLE,
IT'S READY TO GO.
WHETHER IT'S WIND FARMS OR SOLAR
OR RENEWABLE HYDRO ELECTRICITY
FROM QUEBEC AND LABRADOR, TO
MAKE THE TRANSITION, WE NEED TO
MAKE OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. COON.
Mr. HIGGS, YOUR RESPONSE?
>> I THINK IT'S ABOUT BALANCE.
AND IN YOU LOOK AT THE
RENEWABLE, THERE'S NO QUESTION
ABOUT WIND AND SOLAR BEING
TIDAL, TO LOOK AT ALL THESE
OPTIONS OF HOW WE COMPLEMENT THE
SYSTEM BUT THE POINT IS WE CAN
MANAGE THE WORLD DEMANDS ON THAT
ALONE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO
DO THAT OR THE CAPABILITY.
AND THAT IS CORRECT, THAT THESE
ARE NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE
BEING DEVELOPED.
BUT WITH GREAT PROMISE AND GREAT
INVESTMENT, AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS VERY FOCUSED ON
INVESTING IN THIS TECHNOLOGY FOR
THE FUTURE, AND RIGHT HERE IN
NEW BRUNSWICK.
WHICH I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.
>> I HAD MY HAND UP BEFORE Mr.
HIGGS.
WHY DOES HE GET TO RESPOND?
>> I DIDN'T SEE YOUR HAND.
>> SIR, DID SO.
>> NO, I DID NOT.
>> SIR, I'M TELLING YOU, YOU SAW
MY HAND.
SO WHY WAS HE GIVEN THE
PRIVILEGE TO BE CALLED AND
SINGLED OUT TO RESPOND?
>> BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE YOU AND
I SAW HIM.
BUT I WILL NOW GIVE YOU A CHANCE
TO RESPOND.
>> SIR, ON THE ENVIRONMENT,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ON THE
ENVIRONMENT, WHAT Mr. COON IS
ADVOCATING I'M 100% WITH DAVID
ON THIS, RENEWABLE RESOURCES AND
ENERGY IS WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
BUT YOU KNOW, BILL GATES AND
OTHERS HAVE CLEARLY SPOKEN OUT
ON THIS ISSUE.
RENEWABLES WILL NEVER GET US ALL
THE WAY WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
YOU KNOW, 40 OR 50% --
DAVID AS WELL LET'S NOT COMPARE
APPLES AND LET'S COMPARE APPLES
TO APPLES AND ORANGES TO
ORANGES.
SMALL MODULAR NUCLEAR REACTORS
ARE SMALL, THEY'RE SAFE, IT'S
NEW TECHNOLOGY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS
NEW BRUNSWICK'S ONCE IN A
GENERATION OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S NEW BRUNSWICK'S OPPORTUNITY
TO SAVE THE WORLD AND PREMIER
HIGGS, YOU'RE TAKING A LOT OF
CREDIT JUST LIKE YOU HAVE
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC ON ALL THE
PROGRAMS THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN YOU.
RIDING ON THE BACK OF JENNIFER
RUSSELL.
SIR, YOU HAVE NOT INVESTED ONE
DIME IN SMALL MODULAR NUCLEAR
REACTORS AND I AS PREMIER WILL
AND I'M GOING TO WORK AND ENSURE
THAT THIS ONCE IN A GENERATION
OPPORTUNITY BRINGS HOPE,
OPPORTUNITY AND THOUSANDS OF
JOBS TO NEW BRUNSWICKERS.
(PLEASE STAND BY)
>> DOES SEEM TO HAVE LEFT A SOUR
TASTE IN SOME VOTERS' MOUTHS.
SCHOOLS GOING BACK NEXT WEEK AND
PARENTS AND STUDENTS ARE SAYING
THEY'RE WORRIED.
WHY SHOULD NEW BRUNSWICKERS
THINK THAT YOU WILL MAKE THE
TOUGH CALLS IF NEED ON THIS FILE
OR ANY OTHER FILE?
>> IT'S ALWAYS A TOUGH DECISION
TO DECIDE TO GO THE WAY WE WENT
BECAUSE WE HAD A FLAWED BILL
THAT I TRIED TO AMEND THAT WAS
GOING TO COME INTO EFFECT A YEAR
FROM NOW ON A RANDOM DATE
WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE THAT THERE
WAS A PUBLIC HEALTH IMPERATIVE
AFTER 38 YEARS OF MANDATORY
VACCINATION LAWS THAT HAVE HAD
THE EXEMPTION SINCE THEN.
YET THE -- THE CONSEQUENCE WOULD
BE TO THROW KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL,
DEPRIVE THEM OF A RIGHT TO
PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR NO APPARENT
REASON.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO VOTE YES
WITH NO RESERVATIONS.
MY RESERVATION WAS WITHOUT
CHANGING THE LEGISLATION TO
ENSURE THAT THAT WOULD BE DONE
WHEN THERE'S A PUBLIC HEALTH
IMPERATIVE, THE GOVERNMENT CAN
DO THAT WITH A STROKE OF THE
PEN.
THE LIBERALS VOTED MY AMENDMENT
DOWN AND THEN VOTED THE WHOLE
BILL DOWN WITH HELP FROM DOMINIC
CARDY'S CABINET COLLEAGUES.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. COON.
60 SECONDS FOR McKENZIE
THOMASON.
>> THE NDP BELIEVES AS
POLITICIANS AS ELECTED OFFICIALS
IT'S OUR JOB TO REPRESENT OUR
CONSTITUENTS.
WE CAN EITHER SUPPORT A BILL AND
EXPLAIN WHY OR WE CAN VOTE DOWN
A BILL AND EXPLAIN WHY DID HE
WON'T SUPPORT IT.
I DON'T BELIEVE IN ABSTAINING.
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY
REASON TO SAY, OH, WELL, MAYBE
WE'LL JUST LET IT SEE WHERE IT
FALLS.
THE NDP BELIEVES THAT WHEN YOU
WAIT FOR A PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY THAT'S ALREADY TOO
LATE.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T
EXPECT PEOPLE GOING TO PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS TO BE WITHIN THE
GUIDELINES OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THIS DECISION IS LEFT
UP TO -- CHANGING THE DECISION
IS LEFT UP TO NON-GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH.
HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK WE NEED
TO WAIT FOR AN OUTBREAK OF
SOMETHING TO SAY OKAY, YOU HAVE
TO GET VACCINATED.
VACCINES WORK.
THE SCIENCE IS IN.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T
HAVE THEM.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. THOMASON.
Mr. AUSTIN?
>> LOOK, YOU AS VOTERS ELECT US
AS OFFICIALS TO VOTE ON
IMPORTANT MATTERS.
AND FRANKLY SITTING OUT ON THOSE
IMPORTANT MATTERS OR SITTING ON
YOUR HANDS AND ABSTAINING FROM
VOTES IS A COWARDLY WAY OUT.
IT'S NOT DOING WHAT YOU HAVE
ELECTED US TO DO ESPECIALLY ON
THOSE IMPORTANT MATTERS.
BUT GETTING SPECIFIC TO THE
VACCINATION BILL THAT MINISTER
CARDY PUT FORWARD.
THE REASON WHY THIS BILL DIDN'T
PASS IS SEVERAL.
ONE, HE CLEARLY STATED WHICH IS
FACTUAL IT TAKES AWAY FROM THE
RIGHTS OF PARENTS TO CHOOSE WHAT
IS BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
SECONDLY, HE DID NOT SHOW US ANY
DATA OR ANY INFORMATION ABOUT
ANY HEALTH CRISIS WHICH IS WHY
THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER WOULD
NOT ENDORSE THE BILL.
THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE
COUNTRY WOULDN'T ENDORSE SUCH A
BILL.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO POINT OUT
THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT HEALTH
RISK RIGHT AT HAND IN ORDER TO
CONVINCE ME TO VIOLATE PARENTAL
RIGHTS FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY
OF NEW BRUNSWICKERS.
>> Mr. HIGGS?
>> IT'S CERTAINLY IMPORTANT THAT
ALL THE FACTS ARE ON THE TABLE.
WE PUT FORWARD THAT BILL.
I SUPPORTED THAT BILL AS A
GOVERNMENT BILL BUT IT'S
IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT OR NOT
SUPPORT, BUT TO MAKE A DECISION.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FACING
WITH IN IN PROVINCE.
WE HAVE TOUGH DECISIONS COMING
FORWARD AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT
OR WE CAN SAY THAT IT'S NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN OR WE CAN
PRETEND THAT THE POLITICAL
PROCESS WILL CONTINUE, WE'LL
PROMISE TO SPEND MORE MONEY
WITHOUT RESULTS.
WHAT WE'RE COMMITTING TO HERE IN
EVERY ASPECT IS FACT-BASED
DECISIONS.
WHEN IT HAS TO DO WITH THE
HEALTH AUTHORITIES, PUBLIC
HEALTH, WHETHER IT HAS TO DO
WITH EDUCATION.
IT'S GETTING PEOPLE ENGAGED TO
HELP US TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS
IN THE LEGISLATURE.
WE SEE POLITICAL DECISIONS MADE
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THAT
BASICALLY SAY WELL I'LL DO THIS
IF I GET ELECTED.
THERE'S UNFOUNDED REASONS, NO
REASONS, BUT BASICALLY LOOKS
LIKE A WHIM PREDICTION.
WHAT WE WORKED ON TOGETHER IS A
SUSTAINABLE PATH FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
60 SECONDS FOR GERALD BOURQUE.
>> THE -- THESE THINGS ARE ALL
IMPORTANT AND I REALLY WOULD
LIKE TO SORT OF EMPHASIZE THAT
WHAT WE SEE IS THERE'S A VARIETY
OF DIFFERENT DECISIONS HERE BY
DIFFERENT PARTY LEADERS AND I
REALLY FEEL THAT IT'S A
DIFFICULT DECISION FOR PEOPLE
SITTING OUT THERE TO LOOK AT THE
ELECTION TONIGHT AND WHICH WAY
TO GO, BUT I REALLY FEEL THAT
WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS VOTE FOR A
LOT OF SMALL PARTIES BECAUSE
THEN YOU GET A LOT OF NEW AND
DIFFERENT IDEAS AND THEY WILL
WORK OUT WHAT WILL BE THE BEST
AND NOT SO GOOD.
NOW THE NUCLEAR REACTORS, I WAS
IN THE PUBLIC UTILITY HEARING
BOARD MEETINGS AND THE
INFORMATION THEY BROUGHT FORWARD
THERE IS THAT THOSE NUCLEAR
REACTORS ARE 10 YEARS AWAY FROM
PICKING A DESIGN AND BEING READY
TO GO AND IT'S GOING TO COST AN
AWFUL LOT OF DEEP POCKETS IN
ORDER TO DO THAT AND NEW
BRUNSWICK JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT.
>> SIR OUT OF TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
KEVIN VIC OFFICERS.
>> I WANT TO REACH OUT TO ALL
THOSE PEOPLE THINKING OF VOTING
FOR THE GREEN PARTY AT THIS
ELECTION.
VICKERS.
AS Mr. AUSTIN POINTED OUT,
THERE'S NO GREATER DUTY FOR A
LEGISLATOR, A MEMBER OF THE
LEGISLATURE TO VOTE AND MAKE THE
DECISIONS THAT IS REQUIRED OF
THEM.
THIS WAS AN ABDICATION OF DUTY.
THEY WALKED AWAY WHEN IT WAS --
MATTERED MOST.
I COULD TELL YOU --
[ Indiscernible 
Interjections ]
>> I COULD TELL YOU -- I COULD
TELL YOU NOW TO GREEN PARTY
MEMBERS YOU CAN COUNT ON ME AND
THE LIBERAL PARTY TO REACH THE
GOALS THAT YOU ARE ENVISIONING
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, GREENER
THAN THE GREENS, THAT IS WHAT I
BELIEVE -- I BELIEVE THAT IN MY
HEART.
SAME ON THE GLYPHOSATE.
Mr. COON WANTS TO GIVE
INDUSTRY A CHANCE TO ACCOMMODATE
AND FACILITATE GETTING OFF FOR
THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CHILDREN
AND THEIR CHILDREN.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. VICKERS.
DAVID COON, YOU CAN SPEAK FIRST.
>> WHAT Mr. VICKERS SAID WAS
RICH.
HIS ENTIRE CAUCUS, ENTIRE CAUCUS
ABSTAINED FROM VOTING FOR AMONG
THE MOST IMPORTANT VOTES IN THE
YEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE AND
THAT'S FOR THE BUDGET.
THEY ABSTAINED FROM VOTING FOR
THE BUDGET OR AGAINST THE
BUDGET.
THE ENTIRE CAUCUS.
[ Indiscernible 
Interjections ]
>> THE ENTIRE CAUCUS.
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
>> LET HIM FINISH.
>> I'M PROUD THAT OUR PARTY IS
THE ONLY PARTY THAT MAKES
AVAILABLE OUR RECORD ON -- OUR
VOTING RECORD FOR EVERY YEAR
WE'VE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE.
SEE HOW WE VOTED, WHERE WE VOTED
YES, NO AND ON THE SINGLE
ABSTENTION.
>> Mr. VICKERS, BACK TO YOU.
>> DAVID COON, Mr. COON, WITH
RESPECT, YOU VOTED WITH THE
GOVERNMENT ON THEIR BUDGET.
>> THAT I DID BECAUSE --
>> YOU VOTED ON THEM -- YOUR TWO
COLLEAGUES BE A CONTAINED FROM
VOTING THE BUDGET TO ENSURE NOT
TO BRING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT
DURING A PANDEMIC.
THAT'S WHY WE ABSTAINED.
WE'RE HERE TODAY WITH THIS
GENTLEMEN CALLING AN ELECTION
STRESSING OUR PARENTS, OUR
CHILDREN FOR NOTHING BUT A POWER
GRAB.
I TELL YOU NEW BRUNSWICKERS, YOU
DESERVE BETTER.
YOU DESERVE GOOD LEADERSHIP, YOU
DESERVE STRONG LEADERSHIP.
THIS IS WEAKNESS.
THIS IS COWARDICE TO RUN AN
ELECTION, TO ROLL THE DICE AT A
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IT'S
CALLED AND WE WILL AS A LIBERAL
PARTY ENSURE GOOD LEADERSHIP AND
STRONG, STRONG LEADERSHIP ON
THESE PARTIES.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. VICKERS.
Mr. HIGGS?
>> IT IS RICH.
IN A TIME WHEN THE PANDEMIC WAS
JUST STARTING, THE LIBERAL PARTY
ABSTAINED FROM VOTING FOR THE
BUDGET.
THAT IS -- THEY WERE WILLING TO
BRING THE GOVERNMENT DOWN AT
THAT TIME, AT THE VERY BEGINNING
OF A CRISIS STARTING --
>> LET HIM FINISH.
>> WILLING TO TAKE THE
GOVERNMENT DOWN.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT ACTION BEFORE,
THREE OR FOUR TIMES, SAYING
WE'LL BRING THE GOVERNMENT DOWN.
IS THERE ANY SECURITY GOING
FORWARD WITHOUT HAVING THE
ABILITY TO HAVE CIVILITY IN OUR
PROVINCE?
NOT WITH THE LIBERAL -- NOT WITH
THE LIBERALS, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
THEY HAVE ONE SINGULAR GOAL.
>> OKAY.
>> THE LIBERALS DO NOT CONTROL
THE HOUSE.
THERE IS STILL ENOUGH MEMBERS IN
THE HOUSE THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE
HERE TODAY.
WE'RE SPENDING MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS ON THIS NEEDLESS
UNNECESSARY ELECTION, NOTHING
MORE THAN A BLAINE HIGGS POWER
GRAB SO THE PCs CAN GET BACK
INTO MAJORITY TERRITORY AND HAVE
ALL THE POWER.
THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN STOP THIS
MAJORITY GOVERNMENT IS TO VOTE
FOR THE SMALLER PARTIES AND THE
PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE AND WE HAVE
PROVEN THAT WE WILL PROVIDE
STABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND
GET THINGS DONE WITH A POLICY
WE'VE CAMPAIGNED ON.
[ Indiscernible 
Interjections ]
>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL OF
YOU.
IT'S TIME FOR THE FINAL QUESTION
FROM THE PANEL.
IT'S GOING TO BE ASKED BY ANDREW
WAUGH AND DIRECTED TOWARDS
Mr. HIGGS.
>> THANK YOU.
Mr. HIGGS, IT'S A SENSITIVE
TOPIC BUT SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT
NEW BRUNSWICK IS DIVIDED ALONG
LINGUISTIC LINES.
THERE'S BEEN PLENTY OF
ACCUSATIONS YOUR PREVIOUS TORY
GOVERNMENT DID LITTLE FOR THE
PREDOMINANTLY FRANCOPHONE NORTH.
IS THAT TRUE?
AND IF RE-ELECTED, WHAT WILL
YOUR PARTY DO TO CHANGE THAT IF
ANYTHING?
>> I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE
CANDIDATES WE HAVE RUNNING
THROUGHOUT THIS PROVINCE.
THE QUALITY OF CANDIDATES WE
HAVE RUNNING IN EVERY SECTOR,
INCLUDING THE NORTHERN REGIONS
OF THIS PROVINCE.
THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOW THEY
FEEL ABOUT OUR PLAN TO BRING
STABILITY AND TO BRING REGIONAL
COOPERATION AND REGIONAL
VIABILITY THROUGHOUT THIS
PROVINCE.
SO IT WAS TOLD TO ME MANY TIMES
AGO -- MANY YEARS AGO, YOU'LL
NEVER GET CANDIDATES FROM THE
NORTH.
I'VE TRAVELLED THROUGHOUT THE
NORTH.
I'VE WORKED WITH ECONOMIC
COUNCILS IN THE NORTH.
I SEE A VIBRANCY THERE THAT IS
UNMATCHED IN OUR PROVINCE.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE IS THE ABILITY
TO PULL OUR PROVINCE TOGETHER
LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
IT WASN'T LANGUAGE ISSUES THAT
DIVIDED US.
IT WAS -- IT WAS POLITICAL
ISSUES THAT DIVIDE US.
I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
CANDIDATES AND BRINGING THEM TO
FREDERICTON SO WE MAKE BETTER
DECISIONS THROUGHOUT THIS
PROVINCE WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE
OF THEM.
>> Mr. BOURQUE, 60 SECOND.
>> YES, I THINK WE HAVE TO GET
OVER THIS DIVIDE BETWEEN FRENCH
AND ENGLISH.
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
AND I AM -- GOT A LAST NAME OF
FRENCH, BOURQUE AND WHEN I WAS
YOUNG AND GREW UP AND WE MOVED
TO COMMUNITY WHERE THERE WAS NO
FRENCH AND WE GOT PICKED ON AND
ONE THING AND ANOTHER AND WE
JUST -- I IGNORED IT AND WENT ON
ABOUT MY WAY AND DID WHAT I
WANTED TO DO.
IT PROVED OUT THAT I GOT RESPECT
IN THAT AREA.
AND IT'S -- TO JUST KEEP DRIVING
A WEDGE IN, ALL IT DOES IS SPLIT
THIS THING FURTHER APART.
I REALLY DON'T THINK THIS IS THE
RIGHT WAY TO GO ABOUT IT.
>> 60 SECONDS, Mr. VICKERS.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR
PROVINCE IS DIVIDED.
OUR PROVINCE IS DIVIDED BECAUSE
OF ACTIONS SUCH AS FROM
Mr. AUSTIN, THE PEOPLE'S
ALLIANCE AND Mr. BLAINE HIGGS.
WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A
PEOPLE.
OUR PROVINCE WILL NEVER ADVANCE
FORWARD UNLESS WE COME TOGETHER.
IT IS CRITICAL WE ALL DO IT.
AND TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO REACH
OUT TO ONE ANOTHER, BRING OUR
CHILDREN TOGETHER, INTERTWINE,
INTERACT.
THESE ARE COMMON FUNDAMENTALS,
BUT, AGAIN, THE LAST ELECTION
WHEN Mr. HIGGS STOOD FOR YOU
HE PROMISED HE WAS GOING TO
LEARN FRENCH AND Mr. HIGGS,
I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU MADE
OUT ON YOUR FRENCH LESSONS.
EVERY DAY DURING THE PANDEMIC,
WHEN YOU WROTE ON THE BACK OF
Dr. JENNIFER RUSSELL NOT ONCE
DID YOU TRY TO SPEAK THE SECOND
LANGUAGE TO OUR FRANCOPHONE
COMMUNITY AND I AS PREMIER
COMMIT TO BRINGING THE PROVINCE
TOGETHER, NORTH, SOUTH, EAST,
WEST AND ANGLOPHONE, FRANCOPHONE
AND YES, Mr. HIGGS, EVEN OUR
ABORIGINAL PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.
Mr. COON, 60 SECOND.
>> IT'S CRITICAL THAT AS A
LEADER YOU CREATE A CLIMATE OF
RESPECT FOR ALL PEOPLES IN THIS
PROVINCE.
FRANCOPHONE, ACADIAN,
INDIGENOUS, ANGLOPHONE,
NEWCOMERS.
AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE RIGHT
NOW.
PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL SECURE IN
THEIR SKIN, SECURE ABOUT THEIR
LANGUAGE, SECURE ABOUT THEIR
CULTURE AND ON THAT FRONT WE'VE
GOT MORE WORK TO DO WITH RESPECT
TO THE TWO LINGUISTIC
COMMUNITIES, FRANCOPHONE AND
ANGLOPHONE IN NEW BRUNSWICK AND
A LOT OF WORK TO DO WITH RESPECT
TO INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES WHERE
THEIR LANGUAGE IS QUICKLY
DISAPPEARING AND THAT'S BIG
TROUBLE FOR THEIR CULTURE.
THERE'S REGIONAL DISPARITY IN
THIS PROVINCE AND WE NEED TO
ADDRESS THAT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE WOULD RESTORE
THE NORTHERN AND MIRAMICHI FUNDS
AS WELL AS CREATING FUNDS FOR
OTHER PARTS OF THE PROVINCE
WHERE THE REGIONAL -- THERE'S
REGIONAL DISPARITY TO HELP THEM
HELP THEMSELVES.
AND SUPPORT THEIR INITIATIVES TO
DEVELOP THEIR LOCAL ECONOMIES.
SO WE'RE A PARTY OF
PEACEKEEPERS.
AND I'M THE KIND OF PEACEKEEPING
GUY --
>> THANK YOU, Mr. COON.
YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.
Mr. THOMASON, 60 SECONDS.
>> THANK YOU.
SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT,
AGAIN I GO BACK TO THIS -- THIS
COMMON THEME THAT WE KEEP
ELECTING GOVERNMENTS WHO EITHER
DON'T FEEL IT'S A PRIORITY OR
WHO DON'T WANT TO WORK IN THE
INTEREST OF NEW BRUNSWICKERS.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S BEEN --
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S A
LINGUISTIC DIVIDES IN OUR
PROVINCE, THEY'RE NOT SOMETHING
THAT THE CONSERVATIVES CAUSED
THIS ELECTION, NOT SOMETHING
THAT THE LIBERALS CAUSED LAST
ELECTION.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN
GOING ON BETWEEN LIBERAL AND
CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENTS FOR
DECADES.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S NEW.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT ANYBODY
HAS SEEMED TO REALLY WANT TO
TACKLE AND I DON'T SPEAK FRENCH.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR A POTENTIAL
PREMIER TO KNOW.
30 PERCENT OF OUR POPULATION IS
FRANCOPHONE, HAS FRENCH AS THEIR
FIRST LANGUAGE.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT WE KEEP DOING THE SAME
ROUTINE OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT
OUTCOMES.
THERE NEEDS TO BE CONVERSATION.
THERE NEEDS TO BE BETTER ACTION
FROM OUR GOVERNMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. THOMASON.
LAST STATEMENT 60 SECONDS TO
CHRIS AUSTIN.
>> THERE'S NO QUESTION WHEN YOU
TALK TO AVERAGE NEW BRUNSWICKERS
WE GET ALONG.
DOESN'T MATTER FRENCH, ENGLISH,
THE COLOUR OF YOUR SKIN,
CULTURE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
EVERYBODY FINDS WAYS TO GET
ALONG WITH THEIR NEIGHBOURS.
NEW BRUNSWICKERS ARE KNOWN FOR
THAT.
IT'S ONLY WHEN IT GETS TO A
POLITICAL LEVEL THAT WE SEE THIS
DIVISION.
>> Andrea: THE STRIFE THAT
COME OUT OF LANGUAGE TENSIONS
AND FRANKLY IT'S THE LIBERALS
AND CONSERVATIVE THAT IS HAVE
DONE THIS FOR 50 YEARS AND
INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT THE
LANGUAGE ISSUES AND ALLOWING
PROPER DIALOGUE TO HAPPEN ON HOW
WE IMPLEMENT BILINGUALISM IN
THIS PROVINCE, WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS
THAT WE HAVE.
YOU KNOW, IN 2021, WE'RE GOING
TO GO UNDER AN OFFICIAL
LANGUAGES ACT REVIEW WHICH ONLY
HAPPENS ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS.
DO YOU REALLY TRUST A MAJORITY
HIGGS GOVERNMENT OR MAJORITY
VICKERS GOVERNMENT DURING THAT
TIME?
BECAUSE WHAT I'VE SEEN IN THE
PAST SURE SHOWS THAT IT DOESN'T
WORK WELL TO BRING COMMON SENSE
AND A RATIONAL APPROACH TO
BILINGUALISM IN NEW BRUNSWICK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'RE GOING INTO TWO AND A HALF
MINUTES OF OPEN DISCUSSION ON
THIS LAST QUESTION AND WE'RE
GOING TO BEGIN WITH KEVIN
VICKERS.
>> WELL, AS I SAY, OUR PROVINCE
IS DIVIDED.
WE HAVE TO BRING OUR PROVINCE
BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.
ANGLOPHONES, FRANCOPHONES, AND
OUR ABORIGINAL PEOPLES, OUR
FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE.
I STAND BEFORE YOU HERE TONIGHT
FLUENT IN BOTH OFFICIAL
LANGUAGES, WITH A LONG HISTORY
OF -- VERY LONG HISTORY WITH
RESPECTING AND LIVING WITH --
AMONG OUR FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE.
I CAN BRING OUR PROVINCE BACK
TOGETHER AGAIN.
I KNOW I CAN.
AND I WILL DO THAT BY RESPECTING
THE DIGNITY OF PEOPLE AND
RESPECTING THE DIGNITY OF PEOPLE
IT MEANS BEING OPEN AND
WELCOMING TO EVERY ONE OF US
ACROSS THE PROVINCE AND WE
REALLY HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE
EVERY EFFORT AND I WILL COME UP
WITH UNIQUE PROGRAMS TO UNITE
OUR PROVINCE LIKE BRINGING OUR
CHILDREN TOGETHER.
BRINGING CHILDREN AND ALLOWING
THEM A TWO WEEK VACATION IN
CARAQUET AND KIDS IN CARAQUET
GOING TWO WEEKS TO MINTO.
THOSE BONDS AND RELATIONSHIPS
WILL GROW AND BRING OUR PROVINCE
TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. THOMASON.
>> I THINK IT'S VERY MUCH A
MATTER OF PRIORITIES.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT
GOVERNMENTS ARE GOING TO DO TO
BENEFIT ALL NEW BRUNSWICKERS, WE
KEEP BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH AND
I KEEP GOING BACK TO THIS POINT
BECAUSE IT'S -- I'M 23 YEARS
OLD.
THAT'S ALL I CAN REMEMBER IS
THAT WE -- WE HAVE SHAWN GRAHAM,
DAVID ALWARD, BRIAN GALLANT --
SO WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS
RUT OF FLIP-FLOPPING BACK AND
FORTH WITH MAJORITY GOVERNMENT.
>> Mr. HIGGS?
>> THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, I
GAVE MY ADDRESSES DURING THE
DIME WITH Dr. RUSSELL IN BOTH
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES AND WE
TRANSLATION, BUT IMPORTANTLY
THAN ALL OF, I WOULD LIKE TO
DRAW ATTENTION TO HOW MY
TRANSLATION, MY CAPABILITIES IN
FRENCH DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST
10 YEARS.
WE DID A SURVEY AROUND THIS
PROVINCE ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO
COMMUNICATE.
90% ACCEPTANCE THROUGHOUT THIS
PROVINCE.
THAT SAYS A LOT.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. HIGGS.
FINAL WORD Mr. AUSTIN.
>> PEOPLE AT HOME, ANGLOPHONE OR
FRANCOPHONE OR BILINGUAL, DO YOU
REALLY THINK IT'S FAIR THAT
PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE,
DEDICATION, CREDENTIALS AND
EVERYTHING THAT'S NEEDED TO DO A
JOB WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE
THAT THEY'RE DENIED THAT JOB
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T REACH A TWO
PLUS BILINGUAL REQUIREMENT?
WHY DO WE HAVE EASE OVERREACHING
REQUIREMENTS IN AREAS OF THE
PROVINCE WHERE IT'S SIMPLY NOT
NEEDED?
WE CAN USE A TEAM APPROACH AND
ALLOW THE BILINGUAL SYSTEM TO
WORK FOR EVERYBODY RATHER THAN
WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
THAT ENDS OUR QUESTIONS.
WE MOVE INTO FINAL STATEMENTS
FROM EACH OF OUR CANDIDATES.
IT WILL BE ONE MINUTE 15 SECONDS
EACH.
WE START WITH McKENZIE
THOMASON.
>> WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE PARTY
LEADERS TONIGHT.
HAVE THE CURRENT PARTIES BEEN
ABLE TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR
PEOPLE OF NEW BRUNSWICK?
THERE'S BEEN POLITICAL
MANEUVERING, UNNECESSARY
PARTNERSHIPS, UNREASONABLE
DEMANDS AND CRITICAL VOTE
ABSTENTIONS.
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN POSITION
REVERSALS AND THOSE REALLY ARE A
HALLMARK OF THE ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND THEIR LEADERS.
THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
MISTAKES AND THEY REFUSE TO
OFFER HELP TO THOSE WHO NEED IT
MOST.
THEY FORCED THE UNWANTED AND
RECKLESS ELECTION ON NEW
BRUNSWICKERS AND ELIMINATED
VOTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE
WHO RELY ON SPECIAL BALLOTS SUCH
AS NURSING HOME RESIDENTS AND
STUDENTS ON CAMPUSES.
WE NEED BETTER FOR NEW
BRUNSWICKERS.
THEY ARE ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE.
BUT WHAT HAVE THEY REALLY DONE
TO EARN IT?
NOW HAVE THEY MADE THINGS BETTER
FOR THE FIRST NATIONS
COMMUNITIES IN OUR PROVINCE?
FOR STUDENTS?
FOR LGBTQ+ PEOPLE?
I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU REMEMBER
THAT WHEN YOU GO TO VOTE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. THOMASON.
Mr. AUSTIN?
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS
GOING TO BE A CRITICAL ELECTION.
AND I GET IT, I UNDERSTAND HOW
FRUSTRATED MANY OF YOU ARE,
WHERE SOME OF YOU ARE SAYING YOU
DON'T WANT TO BOTHER VOTING
BECAUSE FRANKLY THIS IS THE MOST
UNNECESSARY NEEDLESS ELECTION I
CAN REMEMBER.
I RAN IN QUITE A FEW.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING.
IF WE GO BACK TO MAJORITY
GOVERNMENTS, WE'RE GIVING
ULTIMATE CONTROL AND POWER TO
THESE TWO PARTIES.
IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT NEW
BRUNSWICK IS IN THE SHAPE IT'S
IN HERE TODAY.
IT'S NOT JUST BY CHANCE THAT WE
HAVE A STAGNANT ECONOMY
CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE, ALL OF
THE PROBLEMS THAT PERMEATE
THROUGHOUT THIS PROVINCE.
IT'S BECAUSE TWO PARTIES HAVE
CONTROLLED AND DOMINATED FOR FAR
TOO LONG.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 100 YEARS,
YOU THE VOTER, YOU BROKE HISTORY
AND WE WENT INTO THE LEGISLATURE
AS THREE NEW MEMBERS AND WE HAD
A DECISION TO MAKE.
WE COULD OPPOSE LIKE THE
LIBERALS AND THE GREENS DID, THE
WHOLE TWO YEARS, OR WE CAN SIT
AT THE TABLE AND FIND SOME
COMMON GROUND TO IMPLEMENT OUR
POLICIES AND IDEAS WHICH WE DID
AND ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO
IMPLEMENT THEIRS AND FIND THAT
MIDDLE GROUND AND THAT WE CAN
PULL BACK THE BAD DECISIONS THAT
THESE GOVERNMENTS MAKE.
NEW BRUNSWICK NEEDS TO CONTINUE
THE MINORITY GOVERNMENT, I'M
ASKING YOU TO VOTE PEOPLE'S
ALLIANCE.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO IT.
>> THANK YOU.
Mr. HIGGS.
>> ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, NEW
BRUNSWICKERS WILL HAVE A VOICE
TO MAKE, ASKED TO DECIDE WHO CAN
LEAD THEM THROUGH THE UNKNOWN
THAT MAY SURFACE.
OUR PARTY HAS A PROVEN TRACK
RECORD.
WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THAT ALONG
WITH OUR DEDICATED CIVIL
SERVICE.
I'VE SEEN THE POTENTIAL IN OUR
CIVIL SERVICE.
THEY'RE COMING UP WITH GREAT
IDEAS, IMPLEMENTING INNOVATIVE
WAYS OF DELIVERS SERVICES, ALL
THEY NEED IS LEADERSHIP THAT
GIVES THEM THE FREEDOM TO DO
THEIR BEST.
WE HAVE A LONG TERM STRATEGY AND
VISION FOR THIS PROVINCE.
TO NOT ONLY RECOVER FROM WHERE
WE WERE PRE-COVID TO MOVE WELL
BEYOND A MAJORITY GOVERNMENT
OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS WILL
ENSURE WE DON'T DERAILED.
WE HAVE STARTED SOMETHING.
IT'S THE BEGINNING OF A NEW WAY
OF WORKING ON BEHALF OF NEW
BRUNSWICKERS.
WE NEED TO KEEP THIS GOING.
TO TRULY RECOGNIZE HOW GREAT WE
CAN BE, IT'S ABOUT TAKING WHAT
WE'VE LEARNED, BEING CREATIVE,
REALIZING OUR POTENTIAL, AND
COMING TOGETHER LIKE NEVER
BEFORE.
>> THANK YOU Mr. HIGGS.
Mr. BOURQUE A MINUTE AND 15
SECONDS.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS A REAL TOUGH DECISION AS
TO WHICH WAY TO VOTE FOR THE
PEOPLE OUT THERE TODAY.
I REALLY FEEL THAT THE BEST WAY
TO VOTE IS TO VOTE FOR THE SMALL
PARTIES AND PUT DOWN BOTH THE
LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES.
DON'T PUT THEM OUT COMPLETELY
BUT HAVE THEM IN AND SO
EVERYBODY HAS TO WORK TOGETHER
AND WE WILL END UP WITH A LOT
BETTER GOVERNMENT AND A LOT MORE
DIFFERENT IDEAS AND NOBODY'S
GOING TO RUN AWAY WITH ANYTHING.
AND THEREFORE YOU WILL HAVE A
BETTER GOVERNMENT IN THE LONG
RUN.
AND I REALLY FEEL THAT IT'S THE
POWER IN THE HAND OF THE PEOPLE
TO MAKE THIS DECISION.
NOT THE POLITICIANS.
IT'S YOUR VOTE THAT COUNTS.
SO GET OUT AND VOTE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. BOURQUE.
Mr. VICKERS, A MINUTE 15
SECONDS.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR
JOINING US THIS EVENING.
BLAINE HIGGS CALLED AN
UNNECESSARY ELECTION IN THE
MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC BECAUSE HE
WANTS THE FULL AUTHORITY TO
IMPLEMENT POLICIES LIKE CLOSING
RURAL HOSPITALS.
HE WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE THAT HIS
PLAN HAS GONE AWAY.
IT HASN'T.
HE'S TRYING TO BALANCE THE BOOKS
ON THE BACKS OF OUR MOST
VULNERABLE.
BLAINE HIGGS WANTS YOU TO THINK
THAT HE WILL LISTEN TO YOU, BUT
UNDER BLAINE HIGGS, THERE'S ONLY
ONE WAY.
HIS WAY.
HE'S MORE INTERESTED IN GRABBING
POWER THAN IN THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF NEW BRUNSWICKERS.
AND THE TRUTH IS, UNDER BLAINE
HIGGS, OUR ECONOMY HAS BEEN
COMPLETELY IGNORED.
BY WORKING TOGETHER OUR LIBERAL
TEAM WILL TRANSFORM OUR ECONOMY
TO BRING GOOD JOBS TO NEW
BRUNSWICK AND ALL OUR REGIONS.
WE'LL ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND
GROW THE ECONOMY.
WE WILL WORK WITH PARENTS AND
TEACHERS TO BETTER EDUCATE OUR
CHILDREN AND WE WILL MAKE HEALTH
CARE A KEY PRIORITY FOR ALL NEW
BRUNSWICKERS.
TO HELP MAKE CHANGES HAPPEN I'M
ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR EACH
LIBERAL CANDIDATE AND WE CAN
WORK TOGETHER AND BRING BACK
HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL NEW
BRUNSWICKERS IN EVERY CORNER OF
OUR BEAUTIFUL PROVINCE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. VICKERS.
FINAL STATEMENT GOES TO DAVID
COON FROM THE GREEN MINUTE.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS MAY BE A SNAP ELECTION, BUT
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ELECTION.
GREENS HAVE A PLAN TO CHART A
PATH TO RECOVERY THAT ENABLES US
TO BUILD BACK BETTER.
TONIGHT I TALKED ABOUT HOW
GREENS WOULD APPROACH THIS.
BUT FIRST WE HAVE TO GET THERE
SAFELY.
CHILDREN ARE GOING BACK TO
SCHOOL.
WE'RE COMING INTO THE FALL WHERE
MANY OF US WILL BE SPENDING A
LOT MORE TIME INDOORS.
WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN
EXPERT TEAM OF DOCTORS AND
PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO
ADVISE LEADERS LIKE ME AND ALL
OF US ON THE BEST COURSE OF
ACTION TO STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY.
I'LL HEED THEIR ADVICE AND YOU
KNOW YOU WILL TOO, WE HAVE TO
SPEND ON PUBLIC HEALTH, SENIOR'S
CARE AND KEEPING ESSENTIAL
WORKERS SAFE.
IT'S NOT A TIME TO PENNY PINCH
OR LEAVE FEDERAL DOLLARS ON THE
TABLE.
I'LL HELP THROUGH THE PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS.
I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT
TONIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD EVENING.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. COON.
THAT CONCLUDES TONIGHT'S DEBATE.
WE'D LIKE TO THANK ROGERS, MY
FELLOW PANELISTS FOR THEIR
QUESTIONS, OF COURSE TO ALL OF
THE CANDIDATES FOR PARTICIPATING
AND TO YOU THE VIEWER FOR TUNING
IN.
ON SEPTEMBER 14th, PLEA
