New Brunswick Hansard — content house business 59 3 qp transcripts 1691220.ang

content house business 59 3 qp transcripts 1691220.ang

New Brunswick — Debates (Hansard)

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 1 December 20, 2019 CONTENTS SENIORS Mr. D. Landry Hon. Mrs. Shephard WIND FARMS Ms. Thériault Hon. Mr. Carr NURSING HOMES Mr. J. LeBlanc Hon. Mrs. Shephard MENTAL HEALTH Mr. LePage Hon. Mr. Flemming FOREST INDUSTRY Mrs. F. Landry Hon. Mr. Holland Mrs. F. Landry Hon. Mr. Holland COLLECTIVE BARGAINING Mrs. Harris Mrs. Harris Hon. Mr. Higgs Hon. Mr. Higgs Hon. Mr. Higgs

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 2 GOVERNMENT FUNDING Mr. Harvey Hon. Mrs. Anderson-Mason GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Mr. C. Chiasson Hon. Mr. Urquhart SOCIAL PROGRAMS Mr. Austin Hon. Mrs. Shephard Mr. Austin Hon. Mrs. Shephard TRANSFER PAYMENTS Mr. Coon Hon. Mr. Higgs CLIMATE CHANGE Mr. Coon Hon. Mr. Higgs SCHOOLS Mr. G. Arseneault Hon. Mr. Cardy Mr. K. Chiasson Hon. Mr. Cardy Hon. Mr. Cardy BUILDINGS Mr. Melanson Hon. Mr. Higgs Hon. Mr. Higgs

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 3 [Translation] SENIORS Mr. D. Landry (Bathurst East—Nepisiguit—Saint-Isidore, Interim Opposition Leader, L): First of all, Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish all my legislative colleagues and all New Brunswickers a merry Christmas. That being said, I tabled a petition in the House yesterday. This petition was from Mary-Ellen Kennah. You know, Mr. Speaker, her father and her mother are 95 and 96 years old. Ms. Kennah is fighting, and she got people to sign a petition.

If I remember correctly, more than 1 100 people have signed this petition, electronically or by hand. What she wants is for her father and mother to be able to live together in one nursing home. They have been married for 71 years. Ms. Kennah wants her father and mother to be able to live together in the same nursing home. She is fighting for this and for everyone in this province. At this time, I am asking the minister if she will consider Ms. Kennah’s petition. At some point, will the minister try to help seniors who want to live together in the same nursing home? [Original] Hon. Mrs.

Shephard (Saint John Lancaster, Minister of Social Development, Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation, PC): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I so appreciate the member opposite bringing this to light. I am not aware of this specific situation, and, as you know, we really cannot discuss specific situations here in the Legislature. But I cannot imagine anything more disheartening than having a couple that have been married for 70 years living apart.

I know that every effort is made, generally, to try to make sure that those accommodations are managed, so I would like very much to welcome the Leader of the Opposition to bring this to me. Let’s see what we can work out. On a bigger scale, Mr. Speaker, I do not believe it is possible at this time to build separate units on nursing homes to make that accommodation, but I think that there must be a way that we can try to have all efforts be put toward ensuring that individuals, later in their lives, get to stay together for as long as possible.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 4 [Translation] WIND FARMS Ms. Thériault (Caraquet, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How can a so-called community project exist without the community? I am talking, of course, about the Chaleur Ventus wind farm in the Anse-Bleue, Dugas, and Village-des-Poirier LSDs. This project was developed without proper consultation. Although the city of Bathurst recently pulled out of this project, the proponents are continuing to look for ways to move forward.

How can social licence be ignored in a project of this magnitude? A few weeks ago, I tabled a petition indicating that 85% of residents say they are opposed to the project. A group of citizens came here, to Fredericton, to meet with the Minister of Environment and Local Government. I thank him for that meeting. Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day, will the government allow wind turbines to be installed in an area that does not want them? Thank you. [Original] Hon. Mr. Carr (New Maryland-Sunbury, Minister of Environment and Local Government, PC): You know, Mr.

Speaker, I did appreciate having the meeting with the member opposite and with members of her community who are against the wind farm just to hear their concerns and their points of view and to really have an opportunity to look at, I guess, the facts: the measurements of how far it is from the homes, the flickers, and the considerations regarding the birds. I think that, as we try to move into a time in our lives and in the world when we need green technology in the province, Mr. Speaker, there are communities that do want infrastructure in their areas.

They want to take advantage of green technology, clean technology. So I guess that as we transition into a green world and a green technology, we will consider areas where people want to put in those projects and environmental impact assessments and also consider proponents who want to come forward and move our province forward in a green way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] NURSING HOMES Mr. J. LeBlanc (Shediac—Beaubassin—Cap-Pelé, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the 2018 election campaign, the Leader of the Conservative Party, who is now Premier,

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 5 promised employees, residents, families, and board members of the Villa Providence Shediac nursing home that, if his party formed the government, it would build a new community-style traditional nursing home, and unionized employees would have a new collective agreement. A year as already gone by, and we have only heard about cuts. You have threatened employees and created a very negative climate. Mr.

Speaker, my question is for the Premier: When will he announce the request for proposals for the construction of the new long-awaited nursing home at Villa Providence Shediac? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Original] Hon. Mrs. Shephard (Saint John Lancaster, Minister of Social Development, Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation, PC): Thank you for the question, Mr. Speaker. I have been in fairly constant contact with the member from this area on this project. There were some actual hurdles with the original request for proposals and some going back and forth.

The decision was that a new RFP will have to be issued. So, Mr. Speaker, that will be done early in the new year, and we will make sure that it gets extended. That area desperately needs this nursing home. We understand those requirements, and we will move on this, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. [Translation] MENTAL HEALTH Mr. LePage (Restigouche West, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, the Minister of Health implied, through the media, that there was good news for the Centre of Excellence for Youth mental health in Campbellton.

Less than 24 hours later, he was announcing that the centre was closing, moving to Moncton, and changing its focus to become a rehabilitation centre. There is a team of professionals dedicated to young people in place in Restigouche, and it continues to grow. There are even nurses who will start to work on this team in February. Can the minister explain today, to these men and women who are working with young people in the Restigouche region, what kind of future their profession and their hard work in Restigouche will lead to for them? Thank you. [Original] Hon. Mr.

Flemming (Rothesay, Minister of Health, PC): Rarely in politics does a Minister of Health get a decision that is so unanimously and universally accepted by every health care professional and every mental health expert, except for the members opposite. They over there remind me of the Black Knight in Monty Python. They just do not get it.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 6 The fact is, this was clinically the right thing to do. Turn around and ask your colleague behind you what his father’s comments were on it. The man was in my class in law school—a person whom I know well, who is a deeply committed and honourable New Brunswicker, and who is an expert in mental health. Bernard Richard was in my class in law school as well, and he is an expert in mental health. He supports this. It is the right thing to do.

It is putting the interests of health care first and of politics, which has no place in health care, second. [Translation] FOREST INDUSTRY Mrs. F. Landry (Madawaska Les Lacs-Edmundston, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The community of Haut-Madawaska was hit hard recently by the announcement of the unexpected closure of the J.D. Irving sawmill in Baker-Brook. The Minister of Energy and Resource Development mentioned clearly and publicly that the 172 857 m3 of softwood lumber allocated to the Baker-Brook sawmill belongs to the Crown and that it is up to him, as minister, to decide where this allocation will go. Mr.

Minister, when will you make a decision on what will happen to this wood allocation? [Original] Hon. Mr. Holland (Albert, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, PC): Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to stand, and I appreciate the question from the member opposite. As she knows, we have had conversations with her here on the floor. I have spoken with municipal representatives from the area. I have spoken with all parties involved in this project.

This is something that we take very seriously, and we are going to examine and ensure that we do the right thing by the community and by the allocation. At this particular moment, as of last week, we have had meetings with all the above- mentioned folks. Also, we have scheduled meetings in the new year to continue the conversation, to sit all the players around the table rather than to do things in isolation, and to put together a plan that works best for the community, works best for the industry, and ultimately serves New Brunswick. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mrs. F.

Landry (Madawaska Les Lacs-Edmundston, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the time it will take for the minister to make his decision—a month, a year, or maybe three years—wood from the Baker-Brook allocation will continue to be cut at the J.D. Irving sawmill in Saint-Léonard, even though the company is no longer meeting the condition of maintaining 35 jobs in Baker-Brook to be entitled to this allocation. Mr. Speaker, will the

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 7 minister impose compensatory measures on J.D. Irving for not respecting the condition of maintaining 35 jobs at the Baker-Brook sawmill in order to have access to 172 857 m3 of wood for its Saint-Léonard sawmill? [Original] Hon. Mr. Holland (Albert, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, PC): Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in the response to the last question, this is a process that is unfolding and that we are working on.

If the member opposite would like us to make a knee-jerk or snap reaction that it is not the right one, then that is not what is good for the entire process. There is an old saying in carpentry: You measure twice and you cut once. I am committed to taking the time to work with everybody around that table to get the full picture and to see all aspects of what was, what is, and where we are going to go so that when we do come to a path forward, it is a satisfactory one for all of the folks who are concerned. When it comes to looking at forestry, there is a lot of work, which we have been doing.

It is the result of the entire year that we have just put in, ensuring that we have put everything in context so that we have forestry working as a well-oiled machine and we hear all aspects. I will not exclude anybody from the table, and I will deliver on the results as they relate to this file. Thank you. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING Mrs. Harris (Miramichi Bay-Neguac, L): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. By the look of the gallery here today, we may be witnessing this Conservative-Alliance government being the grinches who stole Christmas and all union rights away. Mr. Speaker… (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr.

Guitard): Please stop the clock. I know that for some of you, it might be the first time that you are in the House. We have a rule that visitors are not allowed to participate in the debate. I understand what you are trying to do. If I were in your shoes, I would probably have done the same thing. But I would like you to respect the rules that we have and let the members do their jobs. Then if you want to clap or do something outside afterward, you are more than welcome. But inside, the rules of the House are that visitors are not allowed to participate. Thank you very much for your cooperation.

The member for Miramichi Bay-Neguac. You may restart the clock.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 8 Mrs. Harris (Miramichi Bay-Neguac, L): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I am in their shoes, and we see what is happening across this province. Unions are not being consulted and are not being listened to. These are our neighbours. These are our friends. These are New Brunswickers who deserve to be respected and consulted and valued in this province of New Brunswick. It is pathetic to see what is happening here.

Will this government make a commitment today to finally listen to and work with these unions so that they are able to represent the people that they are responsible for? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, we have seen the height of irony here in this process over the last year or two years, and we know that the very position that we are holding is the position that this former government took for over two years. All of a sudden, with shifting across the floor and with an audience at bay, the drama continues.

So is it not… (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Guitard): Order. Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): So the drama continues. The issue here… (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Guitard): Order. Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): The issue here is that we have some challenges in our province, and I have asked of every one of the people who are in here and the people who are outside that we face the challenges together.

There are real things that have to be looked at in order to have our province move and succeed and to meet the service requirements that we have. Unfortunately, this became all about wages. It was not a discussion about all the other issues that exist in nursing homes or exist in other aspects of health care and service delivery in many, many other areas. At some point, you cannot punt the issue back and forth across the hall. You have to have a frank discussion about all the issues. The political games have to stop at some stage. Mr. Speaker, now is that time. Thank you. GOVERNMENT FUNDING Mr.

Harvey (Carleton-Victoria, L): Mr. Speaker, this question is for the Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation. The town of Florenceville-Bristol submitted an infrastructure project to RDC nearly one year ago for a regional multipurpose recreational

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 9 facility to serve people of all ages in the western region of our province. This project has the full support of the town of Florenceville-Bristol along with widespread community and regional financial support. Another municipality that is awaiting answers from this government on its infrastructure project is the village of Plaster Rock, for its clean water project.

Can the minister confirm when these two projects will be approved under the federal-provincial integrated bilateral agreement so that these proponents can start construction early in the new year? Thank you. Hon. Mrs. Anderson-Mason (Fundy-The Isles-Saint John West, Minister of Justice, Attorney General, Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation, PC): I want to thank the member opposite for the question. It is a great question.

I had the opportunity just this past week to meet with the Union of Municipalities at the Provincial- Municipal Council, and this is the discussion that we have been having. We in this government have done something different in that we have been communicating with municipalities and stakeholders about how we prioritize, and we absolutely recognize the infrastructure deficit. It has been the priority of this government since we came into power to prioritize, so it has been a consistent message, which we have indicated, that number one is having clean water and dealing with wastewater issues.

Last year, I was very proud to be able to provide Alma with the funding that it needed for clean water. It was ridiculous that during the previous government, Alma had a boil-water order for nearly four years. So water and wastewater were our number one priority, and now we are working to prioritize those other infrastructure projects. I am sure that you are going to have an answer in the very near… Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Guitard): Time, minister. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Mr. C. Chiasson (Victoria-La-Vallée, Deputy Speaker, L): Mr.

Speaker, the mayor of the rural community of Saint-André has been voicing his frustration over this government’s handling of its policing file. In a great example of regional cooperation, the rural community of Saint-André and the town of Grand Falls struck a deal for policing services that would result in substantial savings for the community of Saint-André. The provincial policing contract requires that the community give a full year’s notice to exit the contract. We now find ourselves at two years since the community gave its notice.

Perhaps the Minister of Public Safety should ask the Attorney General for a primer on contract law, because he obviously believes that it does not apply to him. My question, to whoever can answer, is this: When will this government honour the terms of this contract?

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 10 Hon. Mr. Urquhart (Carleton-York, Minister of Public Safety, PC): Thank you very much for your question on policing. I met with both the member and the community at that time, and they are well aware that the policing review is in the final stages of being done. We know and have heard from the community members that policing is an issue, and we have sat down with them.

We are going to be making changes that will allow changes to policing in the province, if they so find that this is what they want to do. When you remove one policing service and put in another one, there are changes that have to be made in the province with regard to the funding and the communication between the other groups. They will be advised early in the new year. I was hoping it would be before year-end, but, as it turns out, it will be in the new year that we will be meeting them. SOCIAL PROGRAMS Mr. Austin (Fredericton-Grand Lake, Leader, PA): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

You know, Christmas can be tough for those who do not have the support of family and friends, and I cannot think of any group that has more struggles than our youth who end up in the care of the Minister of Social Development. I am just wondering whether the Minister of Social Development could give some insight as to the department’s plans regarding foster care and group homes. Hon. Mrs. Shephard (Saint John Lancaster, Minister of Social Development, Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation, PC): I want to thank the member beside me for the question, Mr. Speaker.

You know, it has been a great discussion of late. We had a wonderful discussion yesterday on the motion, put forward by the official opposition and supported by the People’s Alliance and the Green Party, for the department to undertake tabling a plan before the end of March for the social policy committee to review and consider. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the work that the Department of Social Development has been doing.

In fact, when I was briefed this week on youth care homes and the progress that we have made in looking to our future and how it is going to evolve, I knew that the work could not possibly have been done in only two weeks. Mr. Speaker, the work of the staff on this has been ongoing, and they said that this is the first time that they have ever been able to get this file this far. So I am very proud that we are going to be able to announce and bring forward a plan in the early new year for all of us to review and get behind. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Austin (Fredericton-Grand Lake, Leader, PA): Thank you, Mr.

Speaker, and thank you, minister, for that response. Yesterday, we had an opportunity here. There are very few things in this House that all parties can agree on, but yesterday, we had a motion from the Liberals and an amendment by the PCs, which was seconded by the People’s Alliance and

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 11 supported by the Greens with a third subamendment, to create a standing committee where we can look at the issues surrounding youth in care. But one thing that I know for certain before that standing committee has even started is that those who look after foster kids do not receive appropriate funding. The $10 000 per year to look after a child is not enough money, especially when the care is better in foster homes than it is in group homes.

My second question for the minister is this: Has she committed and will the department commit to increasing the funding for those who look after foster kids? Hon. Mrs. Shephard (Saint John Lancaster, Minister of Social Development, Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation, PC): Mr. Speaker, my Premier can vouch for the fact that I aim high. We are preparing a plan that we will be tabling and bringing to the Standing Committee on Social Policy.

It is definitely in my bailiwick to ensure that our foster parents are well looked after and appreciated because they are the backbone of our child protection system. When this plan is presented, I am quite confident that we will see an increase for foster parent families, but we are also looking at other resources as well for our children in care. As we have that big discussion and as we bring it forward to Cabinet and then to the Legislature and the committee for its consideration, I am confident that it will see a very progressive and thoughtful plan to take care of our youth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

TRANSFER PAYMENTS Mr. Coon (Fredericton South, Leader, G): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is good to see the gallery filled with women and men who are working so diligently to represent our hardworking caregivers and first responders. Like most New Brunswickers, I was glad to see that the Premier and the Prime Minister had a cordial and, I hope, productive meeting in Ottawa on Monday. The relationship between the Premier and the Prime Minister is a crucially important one. No one is expecting a bromance to break out, that is for sure, but it is important that good relations are maintained.

It is good to know that they spoke about adjusting the federal health transfer to consider New Brunswick’s unique demographics. The Premier has previously said that he would seek a ratio that reflects our aging demographic and how that compares to what we need to support health care in this province. So my question is: Did the Premier directly ask the Prime Minister whether he would support a demographic adjustment for the health transfer to New Brunswick? If so, what did the Prime Minister say? Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Thank you. Thank you for the question.

Mr. Speaker, I did speak directly to the Prime Minister

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 12 about that very issue. In fact, I have spoken to my colleagues all over the country about the fact that we are leading that wave here in New Brunswick. It does present unique challenges. The Prime Minister was certainly very interested in learning about our situation. What we asked for specifically was some flexibility in some of the current funding that comes from Ottawa to use in areas that are most important, whether it be in the seniors’ care file, the mental health file, or the youth file.

The idea of having some flexibility with the current grants and the current money coming in was very much on our radar and very much a consideration that the Prime Minister was willing to look at. I also received the same sort of support from my colleagues across the country in understanding that New Brunswick is unique in this regard and that we are at the beginning of a wave that many of them will experience. I think there is a lot of interest for us to build a relationship there, which includes funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. CLIMATE CHANGE Mr. Coon (Fredericton South, Leader, G): Well, Mr.

Speaker, New Brunswick is unique, and I was glad to hear that the Premier and the Prime Minister discussed climate action during their meeting. To successfully combat climate change, the Atlantic Provinces all need to work together to collaborate on common solutions. The Premier has an opportunity to repeat, in a sense, what a previous Premier did many years ago, which was to initiate climate action across the Eastern Canadian Provinces and New England through the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers with a motion that he brought there. Our Premier from New Brunswick initiated that work.

I have an idea as to how we could launch such an important collaboration among our provinces. Will the Premier commit to hosting an Atlantic summit on climate action next spring and invite Premiers Dennis King, Dwight Ball, and Stephen McNeil along with all party delegations from the four Atlantic Provinces, from the four Atlantic Legislatures, just as it was done when we started discussing Confederation? I think it is a great idea, and I hope the Premier agrees with me. Hon. Mr.

Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Once again, I thank the Leader of the Green Party for the question and the suggestion, Mr. Speaker. I think that we have moved the bar here, not only in the introduction of a consumer carbon pricing model that was accepted by Ottawa, but also in the introduction and formation of the climate action committee that moves us along that bar. I think that this suggestion... I am actually meeting with my Atlantic colleagues in mid- January, in that range, and it would be a good opportunity to discuss further what that might look like.

I am not familiar with how it was introduced throughout the area at the

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 13 time, but I would certainly be more than willing to have that further discussion with the Leader of the Green Party to decide on a real path forward as we work together to engage in a climate plan that makes a difference for not only New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada but also the rest of Canada and, obviously, the rest of the world at some point. [Translation] SCHOOLS Mr. G. Arseneault (Campbellton-Dalhousie, Opposition House Leader, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Original] Mr.

Speaker, recently, over the past couple of years, 12 Francophone schools in the Restigouche region have been consolidated into two ultramodern schools. The next plan was to consolidate the three Anglophone schools into one ultramodern school. One has since closed. These schools, the two that are left, are nearing 100 years. They do not have gymnasiums, they do not have modern science labs, and they do not have cafeteria service. I think that it is time that this government realize that. There was a plan. The land was purchased. The designs were made. The locations were all there.

Services were run to the site from the city of Campbellton. I ask the minister whether he can respond to those people, to the citizens of Campbellton and the region, because it is a catchment area for those students. Will he make a commitment today to have that school started and constructed… Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Guitard): Time, member. Hon. Mr. Cardy (Fredericton West-Hanwell, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, PC): Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. Thank you very much to the member opposite for the question.

Just the other day, I was very pleased to be able to announce a significant reform in the way that the government shares information around the school- building process. I am very happy to say to this House that gone are the days when Cabinet ministers, people in my chair, used to be able to take building projects for schools and move them up and down the build list based on political consideration. Those days are done. From now on, we make decisions based on evidence. We make decisions based on a series of criteria, many hundreds of items long, showing exactly where the needs are.

When the capital budget process is shared in detail, that list will be shared in detail, and the people of New Brunswick will be able to see the basis upon which decisions around new school builds are undertaken. That is a huge change and one that I am proud to stand

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 14 behind. The people in the honourable member’s constituency and across this province will be able to see that information and see how government is done. That is transparency. That is what this government is all about. Merry Christmas to everyone. Have a fantastic 2020. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mr. K. Chiasson (Tracadie-Sheila, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In 2015, the Francophone nord-est school district and the district education council put Polyvalente W.-Arthur-Losier at the top of their priority list. This was a midlife upgrade project that was supposed to take five years. The previous government respected this commitment. It started the midlife upgrades and completed three of the five phases; there were only two phases left to complete. However, when this government took office, the current Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development decided to drop this priority list and create his own.

The first item on this list was a new school, in his own riding, in Hanwell. Now, the minister is trying to convince us that he is setting up a new system, but it is ironic that he is doing so after getting his new school. My question for the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development is this: Will he commit to completing the last two phases at Polyvalente W.-Arthur-Losier, in Tracadie? Hon. Mr. Cardy (Fredericton West-Hanwell, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, PC): Thank you very much for the question, Mr. Speaker. [Original] I am going to answer in English. I am sorry.

It has been a long day. So, that is actually not exactly the case, what the honourable member just described—not exactly the case. (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Guitard): Order. Hon. Mr. Cardy (Fredericton West-Hanwell, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, PC): The transparency is that I invite anyone in the gallery or on the floor of this Legislature to come over to my office. I will show you the documents. When I stepped into the office—and you can check this with anyone anywhere—I said: No politics. No decisions made on politics.

If a school in Hanwell is number one, it stays number one. If a school in Hanwell is number 15, it stays number 15. That is what this job is supposed to be all about—having the courage to make decisions based not on particular local needs but on the province. That is what people on this side of

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 15 the House are about. We are not about advancing narrow, partisan interests, nor about trying to appeal to a vote here or there. It is about making the decisions that are right for the long-term future of this province. That is what this Premier is about, what I am about, and what this government is about. Thank you. Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Guitard): Time, minister. [Translation] BUILDINGS Mr. Melanson (Dieppe, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Memramcook Institute embodies a huge amount of history in the Acadian community and in New Brunswick. Saint-Joseph College, which became the Université de Moncton, was founded in Memramcook. When our government was in office, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, along with the Memramcook Valley community, developed a plan to renovate this infrastructure and make it viable again. This plan was developed by the department to determine conceptually who, in both the private and public sectors, could rent the space following renovations.

This government cut the project after a $16-million or $17-million investment had been made. Can the Premier update us on his reason for not wanting to restore an institution that is so important to the Acadian community? [Original] Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): I am pleased to talk about this or any other project where money was spent without any plan of usage, Mr. Speaker.

That was a consistent model that we saw over and over again: Build it, build it, and they will come; spend taxpayers’ dollars at will, because we will buy a vote here and buy a vote there, and they will come. Well, Mr. Speaker, when I asked what the plan was for the usage of that building, there was none. There was none. When I talked about the Centennial Building before and what was the plan for that? There was none for that either, Mr. Speaker. When I looked at the cybersecurity building, I said: What is the plan for the use of the cybersecurity building? Who is moving into that? No one signed up, Mr.

Speaker. (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Guitard): Order.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 16 Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): This past government had a role where it felt the only way to move forward was to spend taxpayer dollars and make it look as though the economy was growing. That is why we have the largest taxes in the province of New Brunswick compared to the rest of the country. Mr. Speaker, our goal is getting value for taxpayers’ money. Unfortunately, that never was a model on the other side of the House.

Document details

Collection	New Brunswick — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	content house business 59 3 qp transcripts 1691220.ang
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	content house business 59 3 qp transcripts 1691220.ang.pdf
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	5c48b7f637afa1409dbc1dff69f799cd46a95625

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