Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 1 May 26, 2026 CONTENTS HOMELESSNESS Ms. M. Johnson Hon. Ms. Miles Ms. M. Johnson Hon. Ms. Miles Ms. M. Johnson Hon. Ms. Miles COST OF LIVING Mr. Savoie Hon. Mr. Legacy Mr. Savoie Hon. Mr. Legacy Mr. Savoie Hon. Mr. Legacy Mr. Savoie Hon. Mr. Legacy Mr. Savoie Hon. Mr. Legacy Mr. Savoie

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 2 Hon. Mr. Legacy VETERINARIANS Ms. Bockus Hon. Mr. Finnigan Ms. Bockus Hon. Mr. Finnigan Ms. Bockus Hon. Mr. Finnigan ENERGY Mr. Coon Hon. Mr. Randall Mr. Coon Hon. Mr. Legacy COST OF LIVING Mr. Monahan Hon. Mr. Legacy Mr. Monahan Hon. Mr. Randall

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 3 [Translation] HOMELESSNESS Ms. M. Johnson (Carleton-Victoria, PC): Thank you, Madam Speaker. [Original] Madam Speaker, New Brunswickers heard details contained in a CBC News report involving a vulnerable teenager who is reportedly homeless, in crisis, and unable to access needed support through our Social Development system. This is not an invisible problem. This is a young person actively seeking help.

This is a youth navigating homelessness, instability, and vulnerability and attempting to access services put in place to protect young people in crisis. Madam Speaker, when a teenager reaches the point of homelessness, the system should be responding with urgency, compassion, and coordination. We expect that when a young person is in danger, government departments are going to work together to ensure that that individual is safe and connected to supports. Parents are now asking themselves this: If this young person can fall through the cracks, who else can?

So, my question to the Minister of Social Development is this: When a vulnerable teenager is reportedly denied support while seeking help from this province’s Social Development system, how is it acceptable that a young person in crisis could fall through the cracks in a province claiming to prioritize vulnerable youth? Hon. Ms. Miles (Hanwell-New Maryland, Minister of Social Development; Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation, L): Madam Speaker, through you to the member opposite, thank you. I’m hoping the House will indulge me a bit.

I have sheets and sheets of notes on all the things that I could say that we’re doing, but I’d like to answer this question first. First, to identify and quantify, I say: I’m sorry to the Bobbys, the Leahs, and the Maddys. We need to do better. We have a priority for this government, as it should be for every single citizen, to ensure that we are removing any barriers to access for young people in this province. Reports like this one from the Child and Youth Advocate are hard to hear, but they are necessary because these conversations have not been out in the open like this before the past few years.

I’m grateful that the office is able to do that and to highlight that. There are more folks than Maddy, Leah, and Bobby, and we need to ensure that we’re doing everything that we can to remove the barriers for them to be able to access services. Ms. M. Johnson (Carleton-Victoria, PC): Madam Speaker, this case has raised serious concerns about the systemic issues at play. Is our system equipped to respond when vulnerable youth are in crisis? The people working on the front lines of Social Development face incredibly difficult situations involving homelessness, mental health challenges, family

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 4 instability, and youth protection. However, when a teenager seeks help and still ends up without the support they need, it begs the question: Does the staff have what it takes to act decisively in emergency situations? Families need confidence that when a young person is at immediate risk, there is a coordinated system in place that will respond quickly and effectively.

Right now, many New Brunswickers are questioning whether that system is working as it should, so I must ask the minister this question. Will she commit today to an independent review of this case and a public release of the findings so that New Brunswick families can have confidence this will not happen again? Hon. Ms. Miles (Hanwell-New Maryland, Minister of Social Development; Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation, L): Madam Speaker, through you to the member opposite, most of us in the House are familiar with the Child and Youth Well-Being Act.

That was meant to be the vehicle, to be a person-centred and rights-based approach to supporting young folks who are connected to the care system. With respect to the implementation, Madam Speaker, we need to do work on this. We know that. We have front-line staff who are committed to doing this. We have departments that are committed to doing this, and we need to do more. We have committed to having a public-facing dashboard that will support transparency and accountability. It is already in the works. That was already in the works before the New Brunswick Advocate shared the stories that came to his office.

We are already in the process of doing that, Madam Speaker. We need to do more. We will continue to do more. As the parent of these young folks connected to the care system and Social Development… Any child deserves everything that we have to give them in terms of support. Ms. M. Johnson (Carleton-Victoria, PC): Madam Speaker, this situation has sparked concern among all who believe that when a young person is in crisis, the government system should respond immediately and effectively.

A teenager should never be left wondering where they are going to sleep, who is going to protect them, or whether anybody will care enough to help them. Cases like this shake the public confidence because they suggest that there may be serious gaps in coordination between housing services, youth protection, mental health supports, and emergency intervention. New Brunswickers want to know how this can be fixed and what actions are being taken to prevent any other young person from experiencing the same situation. Both opposition parties want to be part of the solution. Please invite us to the table.

Can the minister tell us what concrete changes she will implement immediately to ensure that no young person in this province will ever again be denied intervention and support when it is most needed? Hon. Ms. Miles (Hanwell-New Maryland, Minister of Social Development; Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation, L): Madam Speaker, through you to the member opposite, we have an actions to outcomes plan coming out. I’m going to be fully transparent here. We had it ready to go. We looked at it.

We said that it wasn’t bold enough or brave enough, and it wasn’t enough to support young folks in this province with the services and supports they need. I reached out to the member opposite, our critic, about

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 5 that. I said that, once we have it in hand, we’d like to sit down and share it and talk about it together, and she graciously agreed. That’s one area, Madam Speaker. We’ve increased financial support for Youth Engagement and Young Adult Services to help young folks under the age of 26. We need to provide those opportunities so that our front- line folks are able to say yes first.

We need to be more person-centred and trauma- informed, we need to support a system of care that is trauma-informed, and we need to support our front-line folks so that they are able to do that. That’s why we’ve come out with bursaries for our young folks, Madam Speaker, it’s why we’re working on the actions to outcomes plan, and it’s why we created a minister’s advisory council specific to children and youth in care. [Translation] COST OF LIVING Mr.

Savoie (Saint John East, Leader of the Official Opposition, PC): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. [Original] Madam Speaker, this government promised everything to everyone, and it is failing miserably, most particularly on its promise of affordability. New Brunswickers are facing an affordability crisis, the likes of which has not been seen in many a year. Everything costs more, from lodging to groceries to other necessities, but where New Brunswickers are really feeling it is at the pumps. This government is raking in millions in extra provincial taxes and excise taxes.

Since February, the price of fuel has spiked by 65¢ per litre. The Holt government is getting a windfall in taxes on the backs of New Brunswickers when those people can afford it the least. Let’s look at the impact this is having on the people this government promised to bring affordability to. Will is a 23-year-old who has a Class 1 driver’s licence and heavy equipment tickets. He can’t find a well-paying job in Saint John, so he must travel back and forth to Moncton each day. He also works a second job doing contracting work to try to make ends meet.

What does the Premier have to say to Will, who could use a break on fuel prices? Hon. Mr. Legacy (Bathurst, Deputy Premier; Minister of Finance and Treasury Board; Minister of Energy; Minister responsible for the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. I find it interesting that the member opposite, the Leader of the Opposition, said: We don’t know when the gas prices were this high. It was 2022, when gas was $2.16 per litre, and the then government had a $777-million surplus. The then government did nothing with it.

I find it interesting that the members opposite keep bringing this up. I imagine they’ll talk about the high deficit we have right now and the current situation of the province and ask us to do something about that, too.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 6 What’s really curious is that the current interim leader is advocating for us not to deregulate and the proposed want-to-be leader is saying we should deregulate. Members of the opposition party are trying to debate both sides of it in the House. Maybe the members opposite should get together, figure out what they want, and decide where they want to go. Then we could have some kind of actual debate between the two parties as opposed to the internal debate that we’re facing right now. Mr.

Savoie (Saint John East, Leader of the Official Opposition, PC): Thank you, Madam Speaker. Maybe the Finance Minister should focus on trying to improve his record as the worst Finance Minister in the history of this province and actually focus on the problems of New Brunswickers. When we were in government, we actually lowered taxes for New Brunswickers, Madam Speaker. Let’s get back to the people who matter, Madam Speaker. Will is a trained heavy-equipment operator who travels back and forth each day and works a second job just to make ends meet. He’s trying to build a life here in New Brunswick.

He can’t afford an apartment in Moncton, so that’s why he travels back and forth. The fuel for the truck he drives costs him $800 per week. With four weeks per month, he’s spending over $3 000 in fuel. That would easily be a mortgage payment. It would easily pay for a high-end apartment, but instead, he’s spending that money on fuel alone. Gas prices on regular self-serve gas have increased by over 30% under this government, which means that Will is paying $1 000 per month more than he paid in February for the same fuel. What— [Translation] Hon. Mr.

Legacy (Bathurst, Deputy Premier; Minister of Finance and Treasury Board; Minister of Energy; Minister responsible for the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. Let’s not forget that, just before Christmas, we changed the base product that is used to determine the price of gas, which is now E10. That lowered the price of gas by 10¢ per litre. That’s the first action we took. It really must be understood that E10 wasn’t created last year or even in December. This product has existed for a long time. It existed when the previous government was in office.

The previous government had the opportunity to make the change and enable New Brunswickers to save money. It didn’t do that. The previous government continued to have debates to attack former Prime Minister Trudeau and to create a political quarrel instead of focusing on legislation and the opportunity to lower prices. This is something we did in December. We did it to provide immediate assistance to New Brunswickers. They have been benefiting from it since we took office, and they are still benefiting from it today. [Original]

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 7 Mr. Savoie (Saint John East, Leader of the Official Opposition, PC): Well, the government’s relief has done nothing, Madam Speaker. The facts are there. New Brunswickers are paying more than ever for fuel. Does the Premier really think Will is feeling any benefit from her $3-billion-and-counting overspend? What would she say if she met Will on the street and shared all of her talking points with him? Is she going to convince him that life is more affordable for him under the Holt government?

Not on your life. He works a full-time job with a three-plus hour daily commute while working a second job as a contractor, and he still can’t afford to live on his own. He can’t even find a place to live, even if he could afford it. How long is Will going to stay in this province? New Brunswick is facing some of the highest inflationary pressures in the entire country. People need a break. Will needs a break. When is the Holt government going to reduce provincial taxes on fuel to help people like Will? Hon. Mr.

Legacy (Bathurst, Deputy Premier; Minister of Finance and Treasury Board; Minister of Energy; Minister responsible for the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. Before Christmas, we reduced gas prices by 10¢ per litre by changing the base rate via E10. When we first got elected, we removed 10% from electricity bills because the previous government had 20% increases coming to face everybody. We instituted a rent cap immediately to provide relief to every New Brunswicker. We took the HST off multi-unit buildings.

That had been done in every other province, but we couldn’t get it done here. That created record housing construction in this province to provide some relief. We had a property assessment freeze that provided relief this year while we were doing our work. We created a school breakfast program. We have done everything that we can, and we’ll do more to find affordability measures for New Brunswickers. I have no problem putting that record up. That’s in a year and a half versus six years of nothing from the previous government. Mr.

Savoie (Saint John East, Leader of the Official Opposition, PC): Well, if the wannabe Premier wants to run on his record, then let’s have an election right now. I guarantee you that people have not been happy about the affordability measures that this government has put in place. Let’s talk about another young New Brunswicker the Holt government is failing. Carter is a professional welder. He was one of many young people who left the province to go find work out West. For a few years, he worked out there and gained experience in his trade.

He wanted to come home, so he came home on the promise that he could find work because of all the building this government was going to do and because life was going to be more affordable for him under the Holt government. What has he received? Broken promises. He can’t find work in his trade as a welder, so he’s painting and doing contract work on the side. He can’t afford to live on his own. He’s also 23 years old. He burns over $500 per week in fuel, he can’t find work in his trade, he can’t afford to live on his own, and he works two jobs. This government thanks him with a $2 000

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 8 per month bill for his vehicle. What does the Holt government have to say to Carter? Does the Premier have her— [Translation] Hon. Mr.

Legacy (Bathurst, Deputy Premier; Minister of Finance and Treasury Board; Minister of Energy; Minister responsible for the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, L): Madam Speaker, again, the member opposite wants us to reduce our tax revenues when the province is in a very difficult position, even though we have found ways to reduce the price of gas with the price of E10. We have acted responsibly. When the official opposition members had the opportunity to act, they didn’t do it. They recorded a large surplus and so were in a position to act, but they didn’t even want to consider taking action.

They put everything aside and blamed the federal government, playing politics. We found ways to reduce the price of gas. We are in a difficult global environment with respect to the cost of gas, as we know very well that there is a war in Iran. Everyone is in the same situation. Our government has already acted to reduce the price of gas in the province, and I’m very pleased with the measures taken before Christmas. [Original] Mr. Savoie (Saint John East, Leader of the Official Opposition, PC): There it is, Madam Speaker.

Blame it on anybody else because it’s not this government’s fault that it spent the cupboards dry and has no results to show for it. This young man works in an industry, has professional qualifications, can’t find a job in his trade, and lives at home with his mother because he has no choice. He could give up and leave again, or he could give up and just become another statistic in the system.

Every day, this young man gets up and hustles to earn his way, but government members have the gall to brag to someone like him that they can’t afford to give him a break at the pumps because they spent themselves into a corner. It’s at $3 billion and counting, and with no results. Premier, Carter is listening. Have the fortitude to stand up and tell him that he will get nothing from you in the way of relief at the pumps. Tell him how his life has become more affordable. Let’s see whether your disconnected talking points line up with his reality. Here’s some truth: They don’t. Hon. Mr.

Legacy (Bathurst, Deputy Premier; Minister of Finance and Treasury Board; Minister of Energy; Minister responsible for the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. The member opposite said, “spent the cupboards dry” . Let’s see how that was done. We just spent the whole month on budget estimates, and there were no specific questions on practically anything. There were just general statements like that—spent the cupboard dry.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 9 Well, let’s look. Since the opposition members don’t want to bring up details on what we have brought forward in terms of programs and help for New Brunswickers, they just keep talking about overspending, apparently. Let’s look at what happened before. For three years, we debated what the member brought up as cut taxes. The former government took off $130 million per year in income tax, mostly for the wealthiest among us. That’s $130 million in revenue every year that we do not get now.

That’s where deficits come from. That’s where they are created. The government of New Brunswick grew by 5 000 new employees. Just at an average rate, that’s probably $500 million to $600 million that was added to the books of the province. That was done by the previous government. That’s where you start noticing where that hole started to be dug. We’re working to fix it, and we’re going to continue to do the job. Mr. Savoie (Saint John East, Leader of the Official Opposition, PC): Madam Speaker, do you recognize that none of the answers have anything to do with ordinary New Brunswickers like Will and Carter?

They are struggling, and Carter doesn’t want to hear your excuses. He wants what he was promised. He was promised balanced budgets each and every year— none. He was promised affordability—not. He has received neither. He wants to gain a wage in the trade that he loves and that he put years into so he could become qualified. He wants to start a life in New Brunswick and grow in that life. It wasn’t too long ago that home ownership was an attainable goal in New Brunswick. Now, it’s an impossible dream for many.

To live in a province where young people cannot even rent a decent apartment at an affordable rate is not what the Holt government promised, yet government members continue with their disconnected, tone-deaf speaking points and self-righteous Liberal ideology when saying they know how to spend taxpayers’ money better than the people themselves do. What does the Premier have to say to Carter that will help him now? Hon. Mr.

Legacy (Bathurst, Deputy Premier; Minister of Finance and Treasury Board; Minister of Energy; Minister responsible for the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, L): Madam Speaker, when we first got into office, we removed 10% from electricity bills right away. Right away, we put in a rent cap to make sure there was affordability, a rent cap that was refused over and over and over by the previous government. We created a system for builders to start building right now. We have record construction in this province. We had record housing starts in this province last year. This is happening right now.

We are providing affordability measures in all kinds of areas to help the very people the member is talking about. There was record employment last year. Wages increased. That’s another record. All these numbers are data driven. You can have a look. Just have a look. They just have to read, stop looking at their notes, and actually go out and see what’s happening. They’ll notice something different is happening.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 10 VETERINARIANS Ms. Bockus (Saint Croix, PC): Thank you, Madam Speaker. The official opposition has been speaking on behalf of farmers in our ridings and urging the government to reverse its decision to phase out provincial veterinary services and the provincial lab. My neighbour, Mike, has been raising beef cattle for 50 years. In the past two weeks alone, he’s had the provincial vet at his farm five times. When I spoke to him late last week, the vet was there again dealing with a bloated calf.

Mike has learned enough in the past decades to be able to take care of most things himself. For those things he can’t take care of, like the bloated calf he’s never had before, cows with winter dysentery, or a cow with a uterus that’s come out, he needs the provincial vet. I asked him what would happen to animals like those once the vets are no longer available. He said: I’ll have to try to get them help or they’re going to die. On behalf of Mike and all the farmers in my riding and the province, can the Premier tell me why on earth she’s eliminating the existing provincial veterinary service? [Translation] Hon.

Mr. Finnigan (Kent North, Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. As time goes by, our commitment to provide quality services remains unchanged. We’re certain a new model will enable veterinarians to better respond to the constantly evolving needs of the people we’re helping without compromising quality. Thank you, Madam Speaker. [Original] Ms. Bockus (Saint Croix, PC): Madam Speaker, so it begins. This past week, I read a very disappointing social media message from one of our provincial veterinarians.

Jamye MacWilliam is leaving New Brunswick at the end of August because the Holt government has cut her job and those of other provincial vets. This government’s decision will leave livestock producers in this province high and dry without the provincial vet and lab services they depend on so heavily for herd health, food production, disease surveillance, and emergency services. Dr. MacWilliam said she loved her job here in New Brunswick but ultimately had to make the best decision for herself and her family.

Can the Premier please explain why she made such a short-sighted decision that will disrupt the lives of so many vets and farmers and endanger the animals they care for? [Translation] Hon. Mr. Finnigan (Kent North, Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. [Original]

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 11 The department is focused on supporting the transition for both provincial employees and the clients they serve. By prioritizing effective planning and ongoing engagement, we are building a strong foundation for the next phase. [Translation] Thank you, Madam Speaker. [Original] Ms. Bockus (Saint Croix, PC): Thank you, Madam Speaker. Across Canada, provinces are strengthening their rural agricultural sectors with additional monies and recruitment efforts to support veterinary programs for farmers.

British Columbia is investing $1.4 million to recruit vets, Ontario is committing $14.7 million over the next two years, Manitoba is committing $134 million over five years, and Quebec is promising a $101- million investment. In New Brunswick, we are shutting down things that have worked well for years for a $4- million saving in the provincial budget. No provincial vets will be available to help farmers with animals in distress at all hours of the day and night. Gone will be the certified provincial lab with its experienced and knowledgeable staff.

New Brunswick farmers have stated that they would pay more to retain what we have, but the government has refused their offer. Will the Premier give us a logical reason for the vet— [Translation] Hon. Mr. Finnigan (Kent North, Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. [Original] Madam Speaker, the opposition members ask the same question over and over, but the answer remains the same. The lab is not closing. The lab is not closing.

Any changes to the delivery of the laboratory service will be determined only after the completion of the comprehensive feasibility study, which has no predetermined outcome. That is ongoing. [Translation] Thank you. [Original]

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 12 ENERGY Mr. Coon (Fredericton Lincoln, Leader, G): Madam Speaker, this government and NB Power are turning their backs on solar power for households and farms, creating disincentives for self-generation. Meanwhile, the new NB Power action plan states that NB Power is looking at ways to encourage self-generation for large export-dependent industries.

NB Power is asking the EUB for permission to impose punitive charges and costs on its customers, and the government has abandoned its commitment to promote solar retrofits. Madam Speaker, these actions are going to kill our solar industry. I thought this government wanted growth. What analysis has the Minister responsible for Economic Development and Small Business done on the impact these changes will have on our solar businesses, electricians, suppliers, manufacturers, and related small businesses? Hon. Mr.

Randall (Fredericton North, Minister responsible for Opportunities NB; Minister responsible for Economic Development and Small Business; Minister responsible for NB Liquor and Cannabis NB, Minister responsible for the Regulatory Accountability and Reporting Act, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you to the member opposite for the question. Our government is committed to growing our province’s economy. Of course, every small business will play a role in that. We continue to engage with solar businesses. Just two weeks ago, I had a conversation with a solar panel installer about what the path forward is.

We continue to work with the province’s solar businesses as well as every other small business to better understand the path forward as we work toward our goal of 10% economic growth by 2030. That includes changes to the SBITC, the small business investor tax credit, that will positively impact every single business that wants to expand and bring investment to this province. That includes energy businesses. That includes businesses in the arts. That includes businesses in every single sector. Madam Speaker, we aren’t abandoning commitments.

We are making wise investments that support every single New Brunswicker in every single income class, and we will support renewable energy as well as other energy projects. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mr. Coon (Fredericton Lincoln, Leader, G): Madam Speaker, the path forward is directly to Nova Scotia, where solar power is embraced. More than 1 000 NB Power residential customers and farmers have made substantial long-term investments in solar generation to reduce their power costs, supporting New Brunswick’s clean energy goals by adding solar power to the grid. They are angry, and rightfully so.

We are told that we need more electricity. These customers are adding electricity to the grid. We are told that NB Power needs to reduce its debt and increase its power generation. These ratepayers are investing their own money in clean power generation and are putting that energy on the grid. Has the Minister of Finance and Minister of Energy assessed the impact of NB Power’s intent to reduce the value of net metering and impose punitive costs on solar producers, on

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 13 solar power rates for homeowners and farmers, and on the growth of our local renewable energy businesses? Hon. Mr. Legacy (Bathurst, Deputy Premier; Minister of Finance and Treasury Board; Minister of Energy; Minister responsible for the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. The reality is that we have made changes to the solar program. We have talked about this before. This government wants to focus more on affordability measures.

There is still a very good business case for solar power in households. The prices of the systems are coming down, so there is still value in using them. There is still a very good value proposition, so incentives aren’t as necessary. I’d like to address the point about Nova Scotia. Currently, Nova Scotia does about 100 kW for farms. NB Power is actually looking at increasing it to 500 kW and possibly going up to 1 000 kW. That’s what it is looking to propose. That is much higher than Nova Scotia.

Although there have been changes to incentives and net metering, farms can still get the benefits of the program at a much higher level than Nova Scotia. I just want to clarify that point. COST OF LIVING Mr. Monahan (Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple Hills, PC): The other day, I was talking to Gary from Gagetown, and with today’s cost of living, he’s really struggling. He was going to leave his job because he can no longer afford the gas to get to work. His employer stepped in and provided him with a gas card because they could not afford to lose another experienced worker. Think about that for a moment.

In New Brunswick, we now have employers acting as a social safety net because hard- working people cannot afford the basic cost of transportation. At the same time, recent inflation numbers and rising everyday costs continue to put enormous pressures on families. People are cutting back on groceries, delaying home repairs, and struggling to pay heating and fuel bills while businesses absorb costs that government policy should address. Can the minister explain what concrete measures this government is taking to reduce the burden of inflation and transportation costs on people like Gary? Hon. Mr.

Legacy (Bathurst, Deputy Premier; Minister of Finance and Treasury Board; Minister of Energy; Minister responsible for the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. I’m glad to address the member opposite because, recently, he’s brought up his solution, deregulating, which really shows the understanding that he has of this file. The fact of the matter is that we already know, based on a study that was commissioned by the previous government, but that it ignored, that this province already essentially mirrors deregulated markets. So, the prices are there.

The thing that is not being discussed and that the member opposite doesn’t understand is that deregulation will not decrease costs, because the province already mirrors other

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 14 markets. Deregulation would reduce red tape and reduce some of the burden on the EUB and different organizations, but that’s not what New Brunswickers wanted to see. New Brunswickers wanted to see relief, and that is what E10 did. When we changed the fuel to E10, we immediately saved 10¢ per litre on New Brunswickers’ gas bills. That’s actually true policy work. Those are true benefits. Maybe the member opposite should read a little deeper into what he wants to do. Mr.

Monahan (Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple Hills, PC): Well, thank you for the history lesson, but that’s doing nothing to help Gary and other constituents here in New Brunswick. Nothing is changing. Small business owners across the province are now already bearing enormous pressure from inflation, including from payroll costs, energy prices, and insurance increases. Many are still trying to recover from years of economic uncertainty, while also dealing with labour shortages and reduced consumer spending.

Now we hear that some employers are personally subsidizing employees with gas cards, Visas, and transportation support simply to retain staff and to keep their businesses functioning. These business owners are stepping up because they value their workers and understand the importance of keeping experienced employees on the job. However, business owners should not be left alone to shoulder the burden created by the rising cost of living crisis. Small businesses are the backbone of our rural communities, especially in New Brunswick.

What direct supports is this government prepared to provide to business owners, who are now personally helping employees cover the cost of getting to work? Hon. Mr. Randall (Fredericton North, Minister responsible for Opportunities NB; Minister responsible for Economic Development and Small Business; Minister responsible for NB Liquor and Cannabis NB, Minister responsible for the Regulatory Accountability and Reporting Act, L): Madam Speaker, we are listening to questions from opposition members who voted against the small business investor tax credit (SBITC) and against investment.

They have been telling us to kill 95 jobs in Miramichi and to take away supports for dairy farmers that are being delivered by a cooperative where over 75% of farmers own a share. The members opposite talk about taking away capacity in agriculture, which is one of our key industries. They talk about ways to pull money out of small businesses and pull out investments. They say no to New Brunswick standing up in the face of tariffs. They say no to changing markets. The members opposite say we need to revert to a world that doesn’t exist anymore and that would decimate the economy of the province.

It is difficult to hear them, day after day, ask these questions that would cause job losses and pain for New Brunswickers and that would not deliver change. It is difficult to hear the opposition members vote against SBITC and ask how we are going to deliver for New Brunswickers. Well, we are. We are building a foundation for growth. We will have 10% growth by 2030, Madam Speaker.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 15 Madam Speaker (Hon. Ms. Landry): Question period has expired. Do we have unanimous consent to revert to Introduction of Guests? Hon. Members: Agreed.