Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 1 June 3, 2022 CONTENTS AIRPORTS Mr. Legacy Hon. Ms. Green Mr. Legacy Hon. Ms. Green Hon. Ms. Green HEALTH CARE Mr. G. Arseneault Hon. Mrs. Shephard Mr. G. Arseneault Mr. G. Arseneault Hon. Mrs. Shephard Hon. Mrs. Shephard PROPERTY TAX Mr. LeBlanc Mr. LeBlanc Hon. Mr. Steeves Mr. LeBlanc Mr. LeBlanc Hon. Mr. Steeves

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 2 ROADS Mrs. Landry Hon. Ms. Green HUNTING Mr. K. Chiasson Hon. Mr. Holland CROWN LANDS Mr. LePage Hon. Mr. Holland NURSES Mr. D’Amours Hon. Mrs. Shephard Mr. D’Amours Hon. Mrs. Shephard HOME HEATING Mr. Coon Hon. Mr. Holland Mr. Coon Hon. Mr. Holland Hon. Mr. Holland CORONAVIRUS Mr. D’Amours Hon. Mrs. Shephard SHALE GAS Mr. Legacy Hon. Mr. Higgs Mr. Legacy Hon. Mr. Higgs

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 3 [Original] AIRPORTS Mr. Legacy (Bathurst West-Beresford, L): Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and I were just getting started on a productive discussion when we were rudely interrupted by the clock. We learned that after a full year of autocorrecting her draft copy, the report on air service delivery will finally be released next week.

I want to thank the minister for the offer to provide a briefing before it is released publicly and, as she said yesterday, before she starts talking to stakeholders and giving them detailed information about the report and about the new air service delivery fund. The funny thing is, none of this information has been subject to any public scrutiny yet, but I am already aware that her team is working on a pilot project. This project has a budget, destinations, and even funding timelines, yet there have been no public requests for proposals and no mention of this fund during budget estimates for any department.

Why is her staff already discussing a pilot project with some partners when none of us know yet what they are trying to achieve? Hon. Ms. Green (Fredericton North, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, PC): I am sorry, Mr. Speaker. I could not get my chair out. Thank you to the member opposite for the question. Yes, we were getting on with a really great conversation yesterday afternoon when that buzzer went off and we had to stop talking. The report has been completed and will be released next week.

We are talking to stakeholders before that release so that they can be aware of everything that is in the report, although I would like to note that we have been in communication all through this process while we have been putting together the background information, which was Phase 1 of the report. Phase 2 of the report was taking that information and working with some experts in the air sector on putting together recommendations for how to move forward.

We took the recommendations and then did a final Phase 3 of the project, and I let the member opposite know that we are releasing the final copy of that next week. My staff is in communication continuously with the airport CEOs, with the airport groups around that, and with our communities. The conversations are ongoing. If they are talking about possible routes, that is what they are supposed to do. Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Thank you, minister. Mr. Legacy (Bathurst West-Beresford, L): Mr. Speaker, I agree, her staff has been in communication with me. I got 1 000 black pages last year.

That is communication, I can imagine. I bring this up because the government has a propensity for being secretive.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 4 Nobody has accused this group of being overtly transparent and accountable to New Brunswickers. I mean, look at the situation. We have a report that has been ready for the better part of a year but that has been kept in a drawer. Now, we hear that a fund was created, but it is not a fund where you present a project and support is awarded on merit— no. The first project in this fund, the pilot project, is very targeted.

Some airports are told there is no need to apply while others are busy preparing their submissions. Are we seeing the beginning of a double standard in the province? Two years ago, the Premier threw out a crazy concept of one single airport in the province. Are we now seeing why he did this, so that he could ultimately focus on just three airports in the south? Can the minister commit that this new fund is for all of New Brunswick? Hon. Ms. Green (Fredericton North, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, PC): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am a little perplexed on how the member opposite would say that this is a secret report. We have been transparent and open with all the stakeholders. The member opposite mentions 1 000 pages. Well, he neglects to mention that he was also provided with all the information. He was given an unredacted report, met with my staff, and was briefed on all that information. The member opposite is not giving all the information. (Interjections.) Hon. Ms. Green (Fredericton North, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, PC): We are putting out the parameters around the air sector fund this week.

There are no secret backroom deals going on. We have been open and transparent, and we have been working closely with all the airports and the airport CEOs. So the member opposite saying that there are shady deals going on is completely incorrect. We have been open and transparent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. HEALTH CARE Mr. G. Arseneault (Campbellton-Dalhousie, L): Mr. Speaker, New Brunswickers were surprised to hear in an offhand comment from the Minister of Health while responding to a question on Wednesday that there was a suspected case of monkeypox in New Brunswick.

Today we learned from Public Health officials that the test results for this case were negative but deemed inconclusive. Can the minister explain why she would raise the issue without conclusive evidence as to whether there was indeed a confirmed case? When did she know that it was inconclusive? Why did she stay silent and not come here and report it to help allay the fear that she created in New Brunswick? Hon. Mrs. Shephard (Saint John Lancaster, Minister of Health, PC): Mr. Speaker, if I had not said anything, those members would have been saying today: Why did you not tell us?

On that day, I believe that there was a lot of discussion about Public Health and I was trying to explain that Public Health has a very big mandate. I think that over these last couple of

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 5 years, we have come to see Public Health with greater respect than maybe it has ever had before. Every single day, the people at Public Health are targeting different issues in our communities. They constantly have an awareness of the things that are happening around them, so I made a comment in their defense. They came out that day with a statement. They have talked about it. It is, as is typical, a nonissue. Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Thank you, minister. Mr. G.

Arseneault (Campbellton-Dalhousie, L): Mr. Speaker, the minister knew, and she let it dangle for a headline in the papers. She let it dangle, and she did not correct it. When she knew it was inconclusive, she did not come back to the House and she did not go to the public. She created fear in New Brunswick, and she did not allay that fear. (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Order. Mr. G. Arseneault (Campbellton-Dalhousie, L): We have now only heard about it on the radio, from the interim deputy chief medical officer.

Why is the minister not reporting it to New Brunswickers herself, the way she would normally have to do? That is her responsibility. Thank you. Hon. Mrs. Shephard (Saint John Lancaster, Minister of Health, PC): Well, Mr. Speaker, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Look, all I can say is that all the relevant information is out there. The people at Public Health have done their job. They have done their job in an exemplary fashion, the way they have been doing it. I just find that the members opposite are grasping.

They are looking for headlines, and they are looking to create these nuances in the public. (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Order, please. Hon. Mrs. Shephard (Saint John Lancaster, Minister of Health, PC): I cannot tell how many times they have sat over there and said “come clean”. Well, my goodness, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. PROPERTY TAX Mr. LeBlanc (Shediac—Beaubassin—Cap-Pelé, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I am going to come clean this morning. Imagine this.

During question period yesterday and also during committee work last night, we questioned two government ministers on spike protection for apartment owners. They had all kinds of time to give us an answer. And this

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 6 morning, I am pleased to announce that, although this government says it is not playing politics, it has announced spike protection relief for the owners of those apartments. (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Order. Mr. LeBlanc (Shediac—Beaubassin—Cap-Pelé, L): Yes, it is a great announcement, but you are playing politics with this. How come the Minister of Finance waited six months to make this announcement?

Over here, on this side, we were telling you that you need to look at the full scope—both sides. After six months, what can the minister say about that to these landlords? (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Order. Hon. Mr. Steeves (Moncton Northwest, Minister of Finance and Treasury Board, PC): I say we do the work. That is what I say, Mr. Speaker. Strategic initiatives—we talk about that. We talk about being smart as we spend our money. We talk about plans ahead, and we talk about planning not just for today—and certainly not as you do, for the next election—but for the next generation.

Our government has heard that people are overtaxed—absolutely. We try to lower the taxes, and then eventually, a Liberal government comes in and raises the taxes over and over again. So, once again, we are trying to protect people from those raised taxes. We are trying to lower them where we can. We are trying to help people when we can, and the latest thing that we have to help them is spike protection. New Brunswick—this is good news. This is good news. We have heard from individuals. We have heard from the business community.

There is a need to address the high tax burden in New Brunswick, and we are doing it one program at a time, strategically investing in New Brunswick. Mr. LeBlanc (Shediac—Beaubassin—Cap-Pelé, L): We on this side of the House also need to take the credit. We pushed you to that brink. Look, this a great news story—a great news story. (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Order, please.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 7 Mr. LeBlanc (Shediac—Beaubassin—Cap-Pelé, L): I quote: “The new property tax relief program will follow criteria similar to the existing spike protection mechanism for homeowners”—this is great news—“and it will be available for” this year and next year. This government is saying that it is for the future, but it is for only two years. This government needs to know that it needs to be in place for the same basic reasons that it is done for the homeowners.

Will this government realize that this program is good for both sides of the House and that it is good for the homeowners, the economy, and the future of this province? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Mr. Steeves (Moncton Northwest, Minister of Finance and Treasury Board, PC): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. He wants to take credit for this. How about you take credit for the cost of gas? How about you take credit for your Liberal cousins who are increasing the cost of gas and putting on a carbon tax? But I will agree with the member in that this is a great news story.

When the opposition comes forward and says that this is a great news story, you can believe it this time for sure. To address the ongoing calls for property tax relief, in 2022-23, the government is providing a relief program, a spike protection, no greater than 10%, to residential rental properties and nonresidential properties, which are businesses. The property tax rebate is available to nonresidential properties and apartment buildings with four units or more if their annual assessment increase is over 10%. Yes, we are putting in a spike protection. We are proud of it.

We on this side of this building are proud of what we do to help New Brunswickers. [Translation] ROADS Mrs. Landry (Madawaska Les Lacs-Edmundston, L): Mr. Speaker, a few months ago, the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure was very pleased to announce that the Titus Road and Deuxième Sault Road project would finally move forward this summer. I applauded. People who get flooded every time there is torrential rainfall have been waiting for over 20 years for this $1.2-million project, which you announced in 2019, Mr. Speaker, and which is funded by the provincial and federal governments.

I learned recently that the project will not be going ahead because the plans are not ready. The minister has been working on plans for five years, but they are still not ready. This part of the Saint-Joseph-de-Madawaska LSD will soon be amalgamated with the city of Edmundston. The Minister of Local Government and Local Governance Reform has been advised that the recurring flooding problem in this area should be fixed before the amalgamation. Madam Minister, who went through your priority files, and what about having given your word?

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 8 [Original] Hon. Ms. Green (Fredericton North, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, PC): Wow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That was a pretty strong ending to that question. I do keep my word. I did announce the Titus Road project. It was actually in my budget speech because I was quite pleased to let the member opposite know that this project has become a priority for this government.

Also, as part of our increased transparency and accountability, now that we are being extremely transparent, when talking about the projects that we have planned ahead, you get to come with us on the journey, where there are sometimes hiccups when we are working on projects. There are some property issues related to this particular project that we are working through right now. There are some issues on private property that we need to deal with that are associated with this project. This project is going forward. The plan is to tender this project this fall.

Once we have the property issues figured out, we will begin the construction this fall, and we will complete the project next spring. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. HUNTING Mr. K. Chiasson (Tracadie-Sheila, L): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We are going to change things around and talk about moose hunting. It is Friday. It is a great day. Let’s talk about this great outdoor activity. As you know, the government announced the moose hunting lottery. Unfortunately, not everybody actually gets a license.

There are people in my region who have gone 10 to 15 years without a moose license, which is unfortunate because it is a great outdoor activity for our province. Now, to counter this, other provinces have come up with a group tag. That permits people to apply as a group, and it gives them a better chance of getting a moose license.

Seeing as the Minister of Natural Resources does not really share a lot of information here in the House, I will ask the Minister of Education whether his government is planning on putting in place a group tag to permit more New Brunswickers to practice this outdoor activity in the province. Hon. Mr. Holland (Albert, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, PC): Mr. Speaker, what an incredible opportunity to utilize an incredible government full of ministers getting something done.

I want to commend the Liberals for highlighting all the good work that this government is doing by spreading the questions all around. We really look forward to opportunities to talk about what a good job we are doing in putting forth initiatives that are making the province better. I want to thank the members opposite for doing that.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 9 I do not mean to step in and speak on behalf of the Minister of Education. However, we do want to talk about the good work that we have done as it relates to the moose hunt. The member opposite is absolutely correct. There have been lots of flaws over the years with moose hunting and all forms of that lottery. But do you know what? We are the first government that said: What are the real problems? What are the real obstacles?

We found those, and we addressed them by requiring hunter safety to be in your docket of training before you can even apply for a moose license. That reduced the number of applications by over 5 500 per year. In addition to that, we doubled the tickets for those in the highest pool. We are getting the job done to make sure that more New Brunswickers enjoy such a… Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Time, minister. [Translation] CROWN LANDS Mr. LePage (Restigouche West, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The forest industry in Restigouche has a proven track record.

We only have to think of Groupe Savoie and Parent Lumber in Saint-Quentin, Irving in Kedgwick, Av Cell in Atholville, and Maibec in Balmoral. However, all these companies need long-term guaranteed allocations to continue investing in modernizing their infrastructure. Since 2019, Restigouche maple syrup producers and their association have been calling on the government to make more hectares of public forest available so this industry can continue to grow. Environmentalists are calling for a ban on glyphosate spraying on Crown land. They want to see more protected areas, especially around lakes and rivers.

The mining and wind energy sectors are showing interesting potential in Saint-Jean- Baptiste-de-Restigouche. Can the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development give us the date of the long-awaited release of his Crown land management plan? Will he consider the particularities, commitment, reputation, development capacity, and economic and environmental effects of the key actors in Restigouche? [Original] Hon. Mr. Holland (Albert, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, PC): Mr.

Speaker, that question is reminiscent of last night when we were sitting in committee and the members opposite were asking questions about implementing efficiency programs related to energy efficiency here in New Brunswick. We were putting forward dates on the calendar for when we were going to do that. The criticism was: Well, we want that done sooner.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 10 Well, I will tell you this right now: A Conservative government will certainly not be one to fast-track something and have it done poorly. I am here to tell you that there has been more work done in a holistic fashion related to the sector of forestry, the sector of conservation, and the sector of improving the biodiversity and ecological sustainability in New Brunswick than we have ever seen, in over a generation. We have received national awards for the work that we are doing in conservation.

My staff and department are on the ground daily with our forestry industry, ensuring that we find a balance and making sure that New Brunswick stands as a leader in both conservation and economic development… Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Time. [Translation] NURSES Mr. D’Amours (Edmundston-Madawaska Centre, L): Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health has indicated that 80 nurses from abroad, trained in their country of origin, are now in New Brunswick. However, the minister never says how many of these 80 nurses are working in New Brunswick as registered nurses.

We are facing a serious crisis, and many health care services are regularly cancelled because of the shortage of nurses. Can the minister tell the people of the province how many of these 80 individuals are currently working as registered nurses? [Original] Hon. Mrs. Shephard (Saint John Lancaster, Minister of Health, PC): Actually, Mr. Speaker, I cannot give you that answer right at this very moment, but I would be happy to take it under advisement. Let me say that I could not agree more that we have a health care crisis in New Brunswick, and we do have a shortage of nurses.

You know, I would be remiss if I did not mention that during the Brian Gallant government from, 2014 to 2018, we lost hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of nurses enrolled in this province. Those are nurses that would be in the service today had the government had its eye on the ball. Mr. Speaker, I understand the intent. I will get the answer for the member, but we are also expanding on internationally educated nurses. We have 80 more coming and more arriving all the time. We are working diligently on recruitment, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mr. D’Amours (Edmundston-Madawaska Centre, L): Mr.

Speaker, the minister should maybe change roles because she has already given this answer. I simply wanted to know

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 11 whether she is very familiar with her health file and whether she knows exactly what she is doing here in the House. Madam Minister, the answer is 20 out of 80. That is what you indicated during estimates. You should realize that we have a critical shortage of health care professionals. You do not even know the numbers that you have already given here in the House during estimates. The brochure the Minister of Health presented last year required nearly two years of preparation.

A few months before presenting her brochure, the minister herself promised that every single New Brunswicker would have a family physician or a nurse practitioner within six months. People are waiting longer than ever for services. More and more services are cancelled because of the shortage of staff in the health care sector. When will the minister present a real plan to the public for recruiting health care professionals, with numbers and timelines, and not empty words like the ones we have been hearing here week after week for months? So, when will this be done? What will the number be?

When will we know? [Original] Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Time, member. Hon. Mrs. Shephard (Saint John Lancaster, Minister of Health, PC): Mr. Speaker, that side is always pushing for the date, the date, the date. I have even heard opposition members say in estimates: Give us the date, and if you do not quite make it, we will be okay with that. We know that is not what the opposition members want. They want a headline. They want to say... May I also just say, Mr. Speaker, that during his first question, I heard the number 18? That is what confused me. I did not hear 80. I was confused by that number.

I am grateful that the member opposite clarified the position. Look, we know that there are accreditation processes that must happen. In fact, let me point to the bill that my esteemed colleague tabled this week. We want accreditation processes done in a more efficient way. We want a validated, efficient process so that we can get our medical professionals in the field and working as soon as possible. I thank the member opposite for this question because it highlights the need, and it highlights that we are doing exactly what we need to do. HOME HEATING Mr. Coon (Fredericton South, Leader, G): Mr.

Speaker, we are coming to the season when families take on home-improvement projects. This year, with skyrocketing heating oil prices—by the way, heating oil does not have a carbon tax attached to it, and its price has still increased by 69% with no carbon tax—and increasing costs of electricity year in and

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 12 year out, families need help this summer to figure out how they can reduce their heating costs and make them more affordable. Prince Edward Island, home of the toonie transit that enables its people to travel around the province on public transportation, has come up with another novel approach to help people afford their home heating. Premier King’s government is providing a free heat pump to families that have a household income of less than $55 000.

If their income is below $35 000, they do not even have to front the money for that heat pump. Will the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development institute a similar program in New Brunswick, funded by our carbon tax revenue? Hon. Mr. Holland (Albert, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, PC): Mr. Speaker to the member opposite, we have had opportunities in two different sessions...

Again today, we are looking forward to debating a bill that discusses the very subject of creating efficiency targets and putting long-term and sustainable funding behind projects for not only electrically generated heat in homes but also nonelectrically generated heat in homes. We are putting a bill in place to set targets to reach those efficiencies, and that has never been done before. To say that the province of New Brunswick is actively addressing and finding ways to find efficiencies to help New Brunswickers would be an understatement. You see, there are by- products that come from that.

We are going to work toward putting in place efficiencies that are going to help relieve energy consumers in New Brunswick and also help us achieve our overall goals of reducing the emissions that are required to go into the homes to heat them. So we have a one-two punch that is going to benefit the environment and the province. Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Time, minister. Mr. Coon (Fredericton South, Leader, G): So, Mr. Speaker, no toonie transit and no heat pumps. Those are the answers, I guess. Right now, to fill a barrel of heating oil, you are looking at a minimum of almost $1 000.

That is the minimum to fill it. It is $1 500 to fill an empty tank. Scraping that amount of money together is impossible or very difficult for a lot of people. One has to ask what this government is doing to make heating costs more affordable. One thing to do would be to help people with the up-front costs of replacing leaky, cold, and drafty windows and insulating basements. For most people, it is difficult or impossible to find the money to cover the up-front capital costs, even though the payback is rapid.

Will the Minister of Natural Resources announce a zero-interest financing program for New Brunswick families to upgrade their windows and insulation, which they can pay back through their annual energy savings?

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 13 Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Time, member. Hon. Mr. Holland (Albert, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, PC): Mr. Speaker to the member opposite, although it has been only a few short years that I have stood here in the Legislature, I have never been in the habit of making announcements during question period, and that will continue. (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Order. Hon. Mr.

Holland (Albert, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, PC): What will also continue is the work that we do to make sure that we achieve those goals of efficiency and those goals of cost-effectiveness here in New Brunswick. For four years, I have been saying that we have almost 75% of New Brunswick homes heated with baseboard heaters. We are working with the utility to create programs to help in that conversion. We have audit programs right now that allow us to go in and examine where we can become more efficient as it relates to the generation or the implementation of energy in our homes.

We have done a lot of work, and we have a lot more work to do. In fact, it is evidenced by the fact that we were sitting here last night and will be continuing today to talk about doing something that has never before been done; that is, putting efficiency targets in place to make sure that we are not only talking about it but also actually doing something about it. And action is what counts when it comes to that file. [Translation] CORONAVIRUS Mr. D’Amours (Edmundston-Madawaska Centre, L): Mr.

Speaker, while the province is facing a critical staff shortage in the health sector, the minister is telling us that she is waiting to see what will happen elsewhere before taking a position regarding long COVID- 19. Yet Alberta is developing a process to follow up on long COVID-19 patients. British Columbia has an interdisciplinary network. Ontario has established a system to guide and assist long COVID-19 patients. Quebec has established three specialized clinics to take long COVID-19 patients, assess them, and refer them to the right specialists for treatment of their symptoms. Mr.

Speaker, I could keep on giving examples of what is being done elsewhere in Canada. What is the New Brunswick Minister of Health waiting for before she does something other than establishing a round table?

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 14 [Original] Hon. Mrs. Shephard (Saint John Lancaster, Minister of Health, PC): Mr. Speaker, I am not a clinician, and I need to rely on the experts within our province to guide us on our next steps. They have participated this week in a national roundtable discussion, talking about approaches and talking about understanding where we need to go with this.

I need to depend on the researchers and the physicians—family physicians and those who are experts in dealing with illnesses—to target this for us. I cannot dictate how this is going to go. They will help us, and they will guide us. As soon as they can give me the process that they will be rolling out, I will be happy to report it back to this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. SHALE GAS Mr. Legacy (Bathurst West-Beresford, L): Mr. Speaker, I think we have established that the Premier is a sharer.

He likes to think out loud, which, you know, in itself, is not a problem, except maybe when you are Premier and when what you say is scrutinized as possible policy or strategy and when, having to defend those comments, you have to use public resources to justify yourself. The Premier, offhandedly or not, said that there is a war in Ukraine so maybe we should revisit shale gas and the fracking moratorium. This could have several meanings.

Maybe the Premier is mandating one of his ministers to see how the shale gas industry is progressing on meeting the five criteria, or maybe the Premier is thinking of changing the criteria. The public debate will be vastly different, depending on which direction he chooses. Which one is it, Mr. Premier? Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): It is good to have an opportunity to talk about the future of energy in our country and the future of energy to help solve problems that we are seeing worldwide, Mr. Speaker.

I know that it would be the practice of the group I am looking at over there not to deal with the real issues, not to deal with the real crisis, and not to deal with why we are in the situation we are in. In looking at how we can help the world, help New Brunswick, and help Canada, yes, it is an opportunity for us to have good, frank discussions about how we manage. You know, in order to do that properly, in the case of developing gas, we need to have all the players at the table, Mr. Speaker.

We need everybody, and that includes First Nations, to have a discussion about how we can help the world, how we can help New Brunswick, how we can help with the energy costs that we are feeling, and how we can build a transition to the next economy, because we are quite aware that the group across the hall here wants to shut the lights out, hope for the best, and let everyone sit in the dark. Mr. Speaker, that is not our goal. Mr. Legacy (Bathurst West-Beresford, L): Mr. Speaker, I get that the Premier prefers to spend his time looking at the past and dusting off old ideas because, let’s face it, he does not

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 15 really plan to be in the job for very long in the future. But he has to make an effort. I mean, I am an optimist. The province will survive his time as Premier, and it will survive this government; but maybe just try to leave us a bit to work with. Everyone else in the world is trying to find ways to move away from fossil fuels, and our Premier thinks that it is a great time to jump into the game. Mr.

Speaker, even if this government achieves its goal of getting into the shale gas industry, the day it starts, it will have to deliver an exit strategy. It is ludicrous. Mr. Premier, the energy sector is in full growth mode. It is the new wild frontier. Innovation and creativity abound, and you are clearly looking in the rearview mirror. Drop this idea of trying to revive a dead file and put your time and effort into the future. Will you prepare this province for the new world? If you cannot, maybe it is time for you to move on. Hon. Mr.

Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): You know, Mr. Speaker, I will just reference the first comment that my colleague across the way made. He talked about the future and what my future might look like. I bet he would have said that about Doug Ford back a few months ago, would he not? So if we are seeing a change of focus in this country, we were seeing it last night in the results of the Ontario election. That is because people realize that the federal policies that exist with the Liberal-NDP government will not withstand the test of time.

We are in trouble, and we are in trouble from a process that is made right in Ottawa. We want to ignore it. We want to say: Oh, no, that is not the problem. Mr. Speaker, we have a federal problem, but we have provinces rebuilding to fix it. I am excited about that, and it started last night. We will look at all possibilities. We will look under every rock to make a difference because we must save our people so that they can live and work in this province. Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Time. The time for question period has expired.