New Brunswick Hansard — content house business 60 3 qp transcripts OQ day 42 May 17.EN2

content house business 60 3 qp transcripts OQ day 42 May 17.EN2

New Brunswick — Debates (Hansard)

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 1 May 17, 2024 CONTENTS AIR QUALITY Ms. Holt Hon. Mr. Hogan Ms. Holt Hon. Mr. Hogan Ms. Holt HEALTH CARE Hon. Mr. Fitch NURSING HOME WORKERS Ms. Holt Hon. Ms. Green Ms. Holt Hon. Ms. Green SCHOOL EMPLOYEES Ms. Holt Hon. Mr. Hogan Ms. Holt Hon. Mr. Hogan

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 2 COMMUNITY COLLEGES Mr. Legacy Hon. Mr. Turner Mr. Legacy Hon. Mr. Turner Mr. Legacy Hon. Mr. Turner Hon. Mr. Turner Hon. Mr. Turner BRIDGES Mr. C. Chiasson Hon. Mr. Ames Mr. C. Chiasson Hon. R. Savoie Hon. R. Savoie Mr. C. Chiasson Hon. Mr. Ames Hon. Mr. Ames ENVIRONMENT Mr. Coon Hon. Mr. Holland Mr. Coon Hon. Mr. Holland NURSING HOMES Mr. Bourque Hon. Ms. Green SCHOOLS Ms. Holt Hon. G. Savoie

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 3 [Original] AIR QUALITY Ms. Holt (Bathurst East—Nepisiguit—Saint-Isidore, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Mr. Speaker, I take issue with something the member for Moncton South said in this House, the people’s House, on Wednesday. He accused members of our team of getting their questions from the people in the gallery, where there were health professionals, instructors, union representatives, and other community members.

I think, at the very core, our job here in the people’s House is not to voice our individual interests, opinions, or personal beliefs but rather to be the voice of the people we represent and bring forward the issues, priorities, and questions of New Brunswickers to this House. So that’s what we will continue to do, and even more explicitly today, as I asked New Brunswickers what questions they would like asked of the Premier. While I can’t repeat them all here, I will try to pose the most common questions.

We’re going to start with clean air because I received questions from Stéphane, Jonathan, Bill, Marg, Annie, and others, who are asking this: When will the government adopt the latest air quality standards, specifically the ASHRAE Standard 241, particularly in schools and long-term care facilities? Hon. Mr. Hogan (Carleton, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, PC): Thank you to the member opposite for the question. I just want to note, Mr. Speaker, that I’m still waiting for the names of those two schools.

I resent the statement made yesterday that I wasn’t doing my job because, out of the 297 schools, I didn’t know which 2 schools these were. I do recall the day when it was, you know, two schools or many schools or some schools. I have to ask myself how important this is to the Leader of the Official Opposition when she won’t tell me which schools these were so that I can make sure that they have the paper and the markers that they need. Now, in terms of air quality, we’re continuing to work on the air quality ventilation systems in our schools. We should have them all upgraded by the end of this school year.

I’m excited by that. I know that clean air is extremely important, and we want all our children to be healthy and safe in our schools. Ms. Holt (Bathurst East—Nepisiguit—Saint-Isidore, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I want to make sure I heard that correctly. The minister just said that all schools will be upgraded by the end of this school year. Can he confirm whether that would be to the standard of ASHRAE 241? What upgrades is he referring to? Hon. Mr. Hogan (Carleton, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, PC): Thank you again, Mr. Speaker.

I haven’t heard the answer regarding the two schools she was talking about. I’m still trying to find out where they are, because, out of the 297 schools that we have in the province, I have yet to receive one of those concerns from a superintendent or principal. So, you know, if the Leader of the Opposition won’t tell me, I

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 4 would ask that the principals contact me directly so I can make sure that they get the supplies they need to finish out the year. For the 2023-24 school year, air quality testing has been completed in all schools. We’ve identified which schools are lacking in mechanical ventilation, and we’re working on that. Since the program began, 11 mechanical ventilation systems have been installed. There are 19 projects currently underway and 14 projects currently in the design phase.

I apologize, it won’t be by— Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Thank you, minister. Ms. Holt (Bathurst East—Nepisiguit—Saint-Isidore, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): I’m going to move on, although I will be interested to hear from the minister responsible for the standards on air quality about when the adoption of modern standards will take place. HEALTH CARE This time, I’m going to ask a question on behalf of Liela, who asks when Public Health will inform the public of how to protect themselves with vaccines and N95s against new and emerging viruses.

Also, specifically, Liela believes we need a permanent Chief Medical Officer of Health and wonders when the position will become permanent and when it will have a strengthened mandate to work with the public. Hon. Mr. Fitch (Riverview, Minister of Health, PC): This is an interesting approach by the Leader of the Opposition today, I must say. I will leave it at that. Look, we work with Public Health, and we take advice from Public Health. It has been doing a great job, Mr. Speaker. From a standpoint of vaccinations, we’ve been very, very clear. We’ve been promoting them.

We’ve actually had some ads out there on how people need to treat themselves to prevent the spread, and we always keep an eye on emerging strains of COVID-19 or other diseases in New Brunswick. We work with our counterparts and our neighbours, the other Public Health ministers. As for when the position will be permanent, searches are going on and work is being done. That’s an HR matter. It is very important to us to make sure we have the right people in the right positions. With respect to the ads we put forward to protect people in the province, I wonder whether the member opposite thinks those were political.

Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Thank you, minister.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 5 NURSING HOME WORKERS Ms. Holt (Bathurst East—Nepisiguit—Saint-Isidore, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The next question comes on behalf of Sue Ann, through Facebook, who would like to know why the Premier refuses to pay nursing home workers a decent wage. Hon. Ms.

Green (Fredericton North, Minister of Social Development; Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation; Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, PC): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m happy to talk about the different workers we have in our nursing homes. They’re a very valuable part of caring for our aging seniors. We continually work with the employer groups, the unions, our nursing homes, and our Nursing Home Association to advance their salaries each year.

This year in our budget, we have more funds in place to recognize the hard work and dedication of the employees who are working in our nursing homes. Our team works on the ground with individuals in the nursing homes. We work very closely with the Nursing Home Association. We value their work. We’ve increased wages by $2 per hour for one level, $2.50 per hour. There have been some significant advancements this year, and there have been in the past as well. We very much look forward to working collaboratively with them in the— Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Thank you. [Translation] Ms.

Holt (Bathurst East—Nepisiguit—Saint-Isidore, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m happy to hear the minister say she’s working with the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes. If that’s the case, she must know that signing a contract for workers is one of the very important priorities for the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes. So, while we’re waiting for a reply from the Premier, maybe the minister can tell us when we will conclude a contract with nursing home workers. [Original] Hon. Ms.

Green (Fredericton North, Minister of Social Development; Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation; Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, PC): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I am certainly aware that contract negotiations are going on. I would hope the member opposite also knows we are not actively involved in the negotiations. The Nursing Home Association is doing the negotiating. I can tell you that those people are all happy to go back to the table. They are not currently at the table at this moment.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 6 I, too, hope this is resolved very quickly. Workers are so important to caring for our seniors in this province. We are there fully to support the Nursing Home Association during its negotiations. We’re willing to be at the table anytime to continue these negotiations. I, too, hope there is a very fast resolution to this. SCHOOL EMPLOYEES Ms. Holt (Bathurst East—Nepisiguit—Saint-Isidore, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My next question comes from Bill, from Twitter.

He’s asking about the persistent shortage of bus drivers that’s affecting parents, students, and our education system. Can the minister tell us what he is doing to address the shortage of bus drivers in our province? Hon. Mr. Hogan (Carleton, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, PC): Well, Mr. Speaker, we have a question from Bill and a response from Bill. Sorry for using my name, although it is my name. I’m still waiting for those two schools. I don’t expect her to stand up and answer. She can send it through one of the pages. We can talk after. She can send me an email. She can call me.

She can send it by carrier pigeon. I don’t care. She said there were schools that didn’t have supplies. Now, she won’t tell me where they are. I’d like to know where they are. Now, the issue of school bus drivers is in the districts’ hands. I know they’re working to train new drivers as we speak. They’re going to continue to do that. As with every other work component in our province, we have a shortage of school bus drivers. We are looking to hire new school bus drivers, teachers— Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Thank you. Ms.

Holt (Bathurst East—Nepisiguit—Saint-Isidore, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hesitate to ask another question to the Minister of Education because I have a hunch that he will use most of his time to talk about something that he can find the answer to himself by engaging with his superintendents and principals. I assume that those are tight relationships and that he would have those conversations on the regular. The issue of school bus drivers is a complicated one. I believe that this government has just decided to add an extra hour to K-to-8 schools.

That’s having the knock-on effect of bumping up start times for high school students and middle school students because we have a shortage of drivers and a shortage of buses. There are a number of parents and families who are really struggling to adjust to the forecasted times for the fall. I’m wondering whether the minister could be more specific and, ideally, answer this part of the question first: What actions is he taking to ensure that we have the buses and the drivers we need to support parents and students in this province?

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 7 Hon. Mr. Hogan (Carleton, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, PC): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a good relationship with the superintendents and the principals. None of them have contacted me over a lack of supplies. That’s why I asked the Leader of the Opposition. She said it in a question in this House, and I’d like to know where they are. I think that’s a reasonable expectation on my part.

If she’s going to say it, then she should at least have the common decency to say where they are. Now, we get all the students to school in the morning. Some buses do double runs. Under the new teachers’ contract, there is a common length for a K-to-8 school day. That means it’s changing the way that we need to get students home in the evening. Currently, districts are going through different plans, attempts, and ways to come up with a schedule. Now, what happens in a lot of places is that school buses will do a rural run in the mornings— Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Thank you, minister. COMMUNITY COLLEGES Mr.

Legacy (Bathurst West-Beresford, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, I asked the Minister of Transportation to give us an update on why the RFP for the Bathurst college had not been done yet. He took it under advisement. After further questions, he now says that he is waiting for CCNB to review the functional plan, which, apparently, is another step that hasn’t been done. I’d like to know when the Minister of Post-Secondary Education expects to have that functional plan reviewed. Hon. Mr.

Turner (Moncton South, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour; Minister responsible for Immigration; Minister responsible for Opportunities NB; Minister responsible for Economic Development and Small Business, PC): Thank you very much to the member opposite. The procedure that’s being followed right now is to obviously make sure that the drawings and the plans are in place before we move ahead with the actual construction or the engineering designs.

We are in touch and are continually working back and forth with the college to make sure that it meets our specifications and that it’s going to address the needs of the students from the Bathurst area and from all over New Brunswick as we move forward with this project. It’s an important project. We’re excited to see… I visited the current building back in February. I saw the state of the building and realized the importance of this. Making sure this project moves forward is a high priority for our department and our government. But it has to move forward in the right sequence of events.

We can’t take giant steps forward before we make sure that we have the right information and the right designs that are going to treat us well, as I said, in the future. We need to make sure that we’re training people in the right trades and in the right areas we need for this province to move forward. Thank you very much.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 8 Mr. Legacy (Bathurst West-Beresford, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad to see the minister sees the urgency of this project and why it is a priority project. The problem is that it was announced six months ago, and now we’re still waiting. We’re talking about how we can’t take giant steps. How about taking a step? It took 6 months to even get the functional plan done. Prior to that, it took almost 18 months for CCNB to actually get the project looked at and approved.

Prior to that, it couldn’t even get any attention on getting it done. The functional plan is not even done, and now we have two different ministers coming up and describing the paint on the walls. Come on. What is going on that we can’t get the first step done on this project and get an RFP for drawings out after almost six months? We are in an area where people feel that getting projects done is sometimes a little bit slow going. This seems as though it’s another example. Maybe the minister could say why his department can’t get things done. Hon. Mr.

Turner (Moncton South, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour; Minister responsible for Immigration; Minister responsible for Opportunities NB; Minister responsible for Economic Development and Small Business, PC): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, to the member opposite. We value the people in Bathurst. We find that they are intelligent people. We find that the people there are passionate. They know their area, and they know their region. They know what their needs are. It’s an area that we feel deserves more attention than it has gotten over the years, unfortunately. It has been neglected.

There has been a lot of decay in Bathurst over the years, not only at the community college but also in the downtown area. No attention was paid. Our government is now taking action and working with the people of Bathurst and the Greater Bathurst area. We’re working on a plan to clean up the mill site that’s in the downtown area. We’re also working with the community college. Again, I mentioned I was there. It has been over 50 years, and nothing has been done. We’re getting this done, and that’s what we’re doing there, Mr. Speaker. We’re making sure that— Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Thank you, minister. Mr.

Legacy (Bathurst West-Beresford, L): Mr. Speaker, this is going to be a short question. Since the minister is so convinced that the government is getting things done, name me one concrete thing that got done in Bathurst that I can spot on my streets. Hon. Mr. Turner (Moncton South, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour; Minister responsible for Immigration; Minister responsible for Opportunities NB; Minister responsible for Economic Development and Small Business, PC): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the member opposite for the question.

I am excited to stand here and talk about not only Bathurst but also the whole North Shore region and the work that our government is doing.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 9 (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Order. Hon. Mr. Turner (Moncton South, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour; Minister responsible for Immigration; Minister responsible for Opportunities NB; Minister responsible for Economic Development and Small Business, PC): I’m not going to be particular with one street or neighbourhood. (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Order. Minister, proceed. Hon. Mr.

Turner (Moncton South, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour; Minister responsible for Immigration; Minister responsible for Opportunities NB; Minister responsible for Economic Development and Small Business, PC): Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Speaker. When I talk about the community college, that is one area that we are working on. We have talked about it over three questions in a row. I’m going to basically repeat the same thing over and over and over. The planning is being done. The engineering is being done. Obviously, we are working very closely with them. That’s one thread.

How about the downtown cleanup? We’re talking about that. There’s the mill site. We are working. We’ve met with the mayor. We met with community leaders here in Fredericton, including the Premier, the folks from Opportunities New Brunswick, and myself. We’re working on that project with RDC as well. We just had a major fire in the community last weekend. We were on the ground Monday morning working with— Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Thank you, minister. BRIDGES Mr. C. Chiasson (Victoria-La Vallée, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m still disappointed that I didn’t get that second statement.

My question is on the tale of two bridges. The Marysville Bridge project was supposed to be completed last year. Apparently, that’s not the case and work is still ongoing. The Princess Margaret Bridge is completely closed to basically fix a job that should have been done right the first time. As I have said before, this government is great at starting projects. Where it has difficulty is in actually getting anything over the finish line.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 10 Can the minister please update this House on the expected completion dates and final cost estimates for these projects? Hon. Mr. Ames (Carleton-York, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, PC): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Actually, the Princess Margaret Bridge is ahead of schedule. When we put the tender out on the Princess Margaret Bridge, I gave workers full authority to work 24-7. There was no problem there. They said they’d get it done in five weeks.

It looks as though it’s going to be done sooner. We also offered them a bonus if they get it done earlier. There will be penalties if they go past five weeks, which is what we agreed to. Mr. Speaker, there’s lots of work going on in the province, and I am pleased to talk about some of the projects that we have going on. I’m hearing from the other side that we don’t always do the work. Well, I have pages of tenders that I have signed. We are doing the work. Let’s talk about ventilation. We have some tenders signed on that, Mr. Speaker. Roadwork—how about 11.4 km of paving— Mr. Speaker (Hon.

Bill Oliver): Thank you, minister. Mr. C. Chiasson (Victoria-La Vallée, L): Putting out tenders doesn’t get anything over the finish line. We all know that. Let’s move on to the tale of another bridge. The Centennial Bridge project began in 2012 and was estimated to take 14 years and cost $120 million. The project has been beset with constant delays, the latest being that the closure scheduled for this summer is being postponed due to an impending election and the complete lack of any progress on a proposed alternate route.

Now that we have established that a bypass will not happen under this government, can the minister please update this House on when the closure will happen? What is the new completion date? What is the new estimated final cost, including the $27 million in litigation that this government will most likely pay for its mismanagement of this project as well as others? Hon. R. Savoie (Miramichi Bay-Neguac, Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation, PC): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a pleasure for me to answer this question this morning. I’m going to set the record straight.

Do you want to talk about a bypass? I want to tell you about the history. In the 80s, there was a plan to do this bypass. Do you know what? In 1987, government changed. What happened, Mr. Speaker? (Interjections.) Hon. R. Savoie (Miramichi Bay-Neguac, Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation, PC): That’s it.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 11 Back in 2020… With another PC government, plans were going ahead to do that bypass. Do you know what happened again, Mr. Speaker? There was a change in government. Now, we’re back here with the file open again. I want to remind you, Mr. Speaker, six or seven years ago— (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Member from Restigouche, be careful. Mr. C. Chiasson (Victoria-La Vallée, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not to worry, minister. We’ll get it over the finish line for you. Mr.

Speaker, in 2011, the Conservative government decided that despite the fact that the Saint John Harbour Bridge was in need of $35-million worth of repairs, it would take over the responsibility of maintaining it. Quite frankly, we have been dumping money into it ever since. The latest project started in 2021, and it was to be a four-phase project to be completed by 2025. The project’s initial budget was just over $26 million. Can the minister please update this House on what the expected completion date is and what the final total cost is estimated to be? Hon. Mr.

Ames (Carleton-York, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, PC): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Harbour Bridge is certainly a work in progress. We will see it through, and we will get it done. There are many phases to that bridge, and I am just looking… The member opposite wants to cut to the chase. It will be finished in 2026. Let’s go on and talk about some of the projects that we are working on, including a K-to-8 school in Campbellton, Mr. Speaker—a K-to-8 school. The opposition doesn’t want to talk about that because it’s all over the front page of the newspaper up north right now.

The story is about how fast we’re getting the work done. Mr. Speaker, for Route 870, a little over $1.6 million is going to be thrown on that road up there this year. In Victoria County, $3.7 million… Victoria County is getting some road work done. (Interjections.) Hon. Mr. Ames (Carleton-York, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, PC): They are talking about tenders signed but no work being done. I can certainly tell you that this is completely inaccurate. Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Thank you, minister. (Interjections.)

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 12 Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Order. ENVIRONMENT Mr. Coon (Fredericton South, Leader, G): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Montreal in December 2022, the world came together and agreed on a global plan to transform our relationship with nature. The adoption of the UN’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework set goals and concrete measures to stop and reverse the loss of nature. This year, the theme for the International Day for Biological Diversity is Be part of the Plan. So, what’s the plan?

Well, Mr. Speaker, it sets 26 action-oriented targets to be achieved by 2030. One of these is to expand the network of protected natural areas. The Minister of Natural Resources here in New Brunswick has made much progress on this, and it will be an important legacy of his role as the Minister of Natural Resources. Another is to ensure that, by 2030, at least 30% of areas of degraded ecosystems are under effective restoration. Can the minister say what areas of degraded forest are being restored to achieve this target? Hon. Mr.

Holland (Albert, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development; Minister of Indigenous Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, to the member opposite, I appreciate having this conversation. The Leader of the Green Party and I have actually talked about what’s been done and, more importantly, what needs to be done. Conversations around reclaiming areas are very important. We did a significant amount of work relating to conservation expansion, but that is not the end. The conversation needs to continue.

Within the Department of Natural Resources, work is currently happening to identify key areas that could have an important role in expanding that conservation area. We are combining it with forestry plans that have made changes that we have never seen before, such as never converting a mixed stand of forest, once harvested, into a single-species plantation. That, in and of itself, is incredible for biodiversity. Thank you to the member opposite. That work will continue. Although it is a legacy, every day that I have, we will continue— Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Thank you, member. Mr.

Coon (Fredericton South, Leader, G): Mr. Speaker, the scientific evidence is clear that there has been widespread ecological degradation within the forests of New Brunswick. Clear-cutting and forest spraying have severely reduced the extent of old forests and have simplified the composition and structure of our forests in general. Among other things, this has degraded the role that forests have played in flood prevention, and it has caused bird populations to decline quite dramatically.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 13 The European Union’s new regulation on deforestation-free products strives to ensure that EU imports of forest products do not contribute to forest degradation. This is quite important, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister of Natural Resources tell the House what changes he intends to make to halt the degradation of our forest and avoid the limits being placed on New Brunswick’s forest product exports? Hon. Mr.

Holland (Albert, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development; Minister of Indigenous Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker to the member opposite, I appreciate the question. Not wanting to grandstand, I feel that it is important that we get right down to the discussion. Areas related to wetland preservation, buffer zones, and what the member opposite speaks about as mitigation items for flood issues have been a part of the Pathway to Canada Target 1 legacy program that we have been involved in, but we need to continue.

The member opposite is correct that there are sensitive areas in floodplains where expanded wetland preservation could play a role. Government, of course, will be involved in that, but I am very proud of the fact that over the course of the past six years, we have opened the door and allowed nongovernmental organizations that have expertise in that to come in and talk to us. The continued targets for preservation are also going to go beyond Crown land and will talk about incentives so that we can bring private land into that. There is a lot of work being done. It needs to continue with everyone— Mr. Speaker (Hon.

Bill Oliver): Thank you, minister. [Translation] NURSING HOMES Mr. Bourque (Kent South, L): Mr. Speaker, the construction of a new 60-bed nursing home in the southern part of Kent County was announced around two years ago. Two years have passed, but nothing has been seen or heard regarding this announcement. In the latest news, only one eligible project had been submitted, and I think it was accepted. I understand that this project affects the Saint-Antoine area. Since there is no sign of anything, would one of the ministers involved provide us with an update on the status of the file?

People have been waiting for almost two years, and as they say back home, it all evokes a government that’s dragging its feet. Thank you very much. [Original] Hon. Ms. Green (Fredericton North, Minister of Social Development; Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation; Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, PC): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I can tell the

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 14 member opposite that this minister is not dragging her feet. We are working on this project, and he is about one week early for an announcement. We have been working diligently and negotiating with the proponent. We will have some very good information to share in about one week. It’s next Friday, I believe. I will invite the member opposite to come to the announcement.

We are working very hard to ensure we have enough nursing homes and nursing home beds in this province, and we have been following the Nursing Home Plan. We are embracing the last few pieces of that Nursing Home Plan before we release the next nursing home plan. To the member opposite, I will see you in about a week’s time. SCHOOLS Ms. Holt (Bathurst East—Nepisiguit—Saint-Isidore, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to recap some of the things I have heard this week and today in the Legislature because I think they demonstrate a theme for this government.

We have a minister saying that he had a meeting with the nurses and the doctors, thinking that that’s a good partnership on primary care. We have a minister sitting at home waiting for superintendents and principals to reach out to him instead of picking up the phone. We have the Minister responsible for Opportunities NB saying that he can’t take giant steps forward. We have a government sitting around waiting for things to happen while New Brunswickers wait for health care and wait for public housing and wait for tax relief on their power bills and wait for a change in government.

The constituents of Oromocto and the people of Oromocto High School are also waiting to get transformations to their school that were committed to many years ago. Can the member from Oromocto confirm when the students and teachers at OHS can expect to see their school improved? Hon. G. Savoie (Saint John East, Minister of Local Government; Minister of Environment and Climate Change; Minister responsible for La Francophonie, PC): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, there is a very interesting attempt by the Leader of the Opposition to try to change the dial a little bit.

She wants to talk about doing things differently? Well, our narrative over here has been that there’s a pattern of behaviour from the members opposite. It is a continual barrage: We think that we have the moral high ground here, and we are going to do everything right for New Brunswickers. However, history speaks otherwise, Mr. Speaker. It is clear. They talk about government money being spent. Well, let’s talk about their Strategic Program Review. They spent over half a million dollars on their SPR, and what did they spend $360 000 on?

Advertising, trying to prove to New Brunswickers that there was a need to do the consultation that they were doing. It is kind of like, don’t pour a bucket of water on my feet and tell me that it’s raining. They will never change their spots. They are who they are, and that’s—

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 15 Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Thank you, member. Question period is over.

Document details

Collection	New Brunswick — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	content house business 60 3 qp transcripts OQ day 42 May 17.EN2
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	content house business 60 3 qp transcripts OQ day 42 May 17.EN2.pdf
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	389b1a84394c1168e9fdf67b455b27cd5f319665

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