Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 1 November 3, 2023 CONTENTS HEALTH Ms. Holt Hon. Mr. Higgs CHILDCARE Ms. Holt Hon. Ms. Green AIR QUALITY Mr. LePage Hon. Mr. Crossman Mr. LePage Hon. Mr. Crossman Hon. Mr. Crossman CHILDREN Mr. D’Amours Hon. Mr. Hogan PARLEE BEACH PROVINCIAL PARK Mr. J. LeBlanc Hon. Ms. Scott-Wallace SCHOOLS Mr. K. Chiasson Hon. Mr. Hogan ABORTION Ms. Thériault

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 2 Hon. S. Wilson FLOODS Ms. Landry Hon. Mr. Ames NURSING HOMES Mr. M. LeBlanc Hon. Ms. Green INFRASTRUCTURE Mr. G. Arseneault Hon. Mr. Ames Mr. C. Chiasson Hon. Mr. Austin Mr. Legacy Hon. Ms. Green CARBON TAX Mr. Bourque NURSING HOMES Hon. Ms. Green Hon. Ms. Green SMALL NUCLEAR REACTORS Mr. Coon Hon. Mr. Holland Mr. Coon Hon. Mr. Holland BRIDGES Mr. Mallet Hon. Mr. Ames DAY CARE Ms. Holt Hon. Mr. Hogan CANADA PENSION Ms. Holt Hon. Mr. Higgs

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 3 [Original] HEALTH Ms. Holt (Bathurst East—Nepisiguit—Saint-Isidore, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the Premier and the minister have now met with the doctors of the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital (DECH) to address their concerns about the hybrid OR.

Horizon Health supports hybrid ORs in Fredericton, Saint John, and Moncton because this is a modernization of our health care system that makes it more efficient, that makes services to patients more accurate, and that is better for the doctors who work in these environments. With only one room at the DECH, there is a desperate need for this facility, but the Premier provided the physicians no answers, no solutions, and no support. With the funding in place and the room ready to go, how can the Premier justify not supporting the hybrid OR? Hon. Mr.

Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is correct. We had a very good meeting with doctors representing the DECH and the surgery unit that they are looking for. We talked about health care in New Brunswick and how we can best utilize all of the services that we have throughout our province. We agreed to a process in which all the facts are put on the table.

We have a collaboration board that looks at this in a network type of scenario and looks at how we can continue to grow and continue to look at the best practice for this hospital. We have a path forward, working with the doctors, working with the collaboration panel and members of Horizon’s board, and working in a way that reflects the benefit to not only this region but also the entire province. Our health care system is only going to get better if we look at how we utilize our system best throughout the entire province, in both Vitalité and Horizon.

I am pleased to say, as the outcome of that meeting, that we have an obligation to react. We have an obligation to work with the facts. Do you know what, Mr. Speaker? Do you know what they said that was so impressive? They said that they want to be part of the decision-making process, and we want them to be. CHILDCARE Ms. Holt (Bathurst East—Nepisiguit—Saint-Isidore, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Mr. Speaker, the doctors were not pleased with the outcome of that meeting in which they heard, You will have to wait. We will talk about it some more, maybe later this year or next year.

But it is another day, and we have had another parent contact us to help find childcare in New Brunswick. In Bathurst, Tara-Lynn Pitre has been off work for more than six months, searching for a space while nonprofit childcare facilities wait for the minister to approve more spaces.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 4 [Translation] Garderie McLaughlin in Moncton can accommodate 120 children, but it has only received 15 subsidized spaces. With over 1 000 designated spaces paid for by the federal government and not yet distributed, why is the minister not acting? [Original] Hon. Ms. Green (Fredericton North, Minister of Social Development; Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation; Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, PC): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I was at that meeting yesterday as well. It was a very good meeting, and the doctors shared their concerns deeply, from their hearts. It was very moving for everybody that was in that part of that meeting. We left that room with many agreed-upon items and an agreed-upon path moving forward. I have actually had some communication with the doctors this morning. They reached out for more information and more clarity. It is unfortunate that the member opposite would be saying that the meeting was not a good meeting or the discussion was not a good discussion because it is ongoing and it was very good.

I also want to address an issue from yesterday. There was a good discussion back and forth with the Minister responsible for Seniors. Then there was a performance from a member opposite, and there was a question asked that never actually got answered because of the performance by the member for Shediac Bay-Dieppe. I would like to answer that question, so if you would ask me about the locations of the four seniors’ complexes, I would be happy to— Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Thank you, minister. AIR QUALITY Mr. LePage (Restigouche West, L): Mr.

Speaker, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change stood behind his decision to once again renew the approval to operate Coastal Shell Products in Beaurivage despite hundreds of complaints submitted, the nearby school having to be evacuated multiple times, children not being able to play outside, residents being prisoners of their homes, and ongoing trials.

In an email sent to multiple stakeholders, the minister stated that the Department of Environment is operating within the regulatory framework of the Clean Air Act, which states that: no person shall, directly or indirectly, cause or permit the release into the air of a contaminant or a class of contaminant with the result that the release .................................................................................................................................................................................................. (

b) substantially interferes with the normal conduct of any business, or

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 5 (

c) causes substantial loss of the normal enjoyment of the use of any property. Minister, in what way is Coastal Shell Products not in violation of this Clean Air Act? Hon. Mr. Crossman (Hampton, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, PC): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. There was a lot going on this summer regarding the testing with Coastal Shell Products, and certainly, it is undergoing testing right now for new equipment that was put in place as of August 1, as you are aware. The next deadline that is coming up is on November 30. For our department, it is about getting boots on the ground.

For anybody who wants to call, there is a number to reach out to. Coastal Shell Products is going through the testing. It started a trial within this past month to make sure that the equipment is working. We are waiting for the results, which we have not picked up yet. We are waiting. As I mentioned earlier to you as well as the member for Kent North, we are waiting for that to come. Along with that, you should not forget that this was set up by Brian Gallant’s Liberal government through ONB back in 2016. Now, this government is wearing it.

I believe that this is all about location, and I honestly believe that whoever was responsible for it at that time did not realize what it would be today. They did not expect that. It was done for a lot of employment and for the processing of shells, crab, lobster, and shrimp, so it is important business. Mr. LePage (Restigouche West, L): Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the minister reminded us of the November 30 date. I would also like to remind him that he had five years to act on this file, which he has not done.

I would like to remind the minister that in 2019, due to the fact that odours and noise adversely affected off-site receptors, which included members of the public, an order to cease operation was issued under the Clean Environment Act. The company was again in a trial period in 2021, under your watch. Last month, the Minister of Environment stated that Coastal Shell Products is once again in a trial period. Under this government, how long is a reasonable amount of time for a trial period to last? Minister, if and when this new technology does not solve the problem, what is the plan?

What are the next steps for the Department of Environment to finally protect the people of Beaurivage? Hon. Mr. Crossman (Hampton, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, PC): Mr. Speaker, thank you again for the question from across the way. It is important. We take it very seriously. Otherwise, we would not be here. Let’s go back to 2016 and Opportunities New Brunswick. I believe your official opposition leader was working in that department at that time. If not, she was certainly aware of that. But the Brian Gallant government— (Interjections.)

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 6 Hon. Mr. Crossman (Hampton, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, PC): There was $2.9 million to set up at this location. It was you. You did it all by yourself. Of that, $2.5 million was in term loans. The facility started operating on a trial basis in June 2017, which we just referred to, and it has experienced technical difficulties ever since. Coastal Shell Products is working on it. The hard stop is coming up. The first one is on November 30.

It takes a full year—until next July 31—to get all the equipment in place. Folks came here from overseas, from wherever the equipment came from, to do the trial test. The company cannot operate during daytime hours. It is overnight only. [Translation] CHILDREN Mr. D’Amours (Edmundston-Madawaska Centre, L): Mr. Speaker, many children do not get enough to eat. They get to school with an empty stomach and their lunch is no more than a dry slice of bread. Despite the surpluses the Premier loves to brag about, he seems to have no empathy for all these children going to school without having eaten.

We understand that the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development has no power. The question is simple: Can he sleep at night knowing full well, as a former educator, that this situation is unacceptable? Hon. Mr. Hogan (Carleton, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, PC): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I sleep very well; thank you very much to the member opposite for asking about my health. As a former educator and school principal, I know it is very important to make sure our children are fed.

Our government spent $2 million to ensure we had a food program in each of our schools. Thanks to the groups of volunteers helping us by gathering food to give to children, we will have a program to feed our children in each of our schools. However, I can say that the federal government promised to invest $1 billion . . . [Original] Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Time, minister. PARLEE BEACH PROVINCIAL PARK Mr. J. LeBlanc (Shediac—Beaubassin—Cap-Pelé, L): Mr.

Speaker, can the Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture give me an answer to why we had so many no swimming advisories at Parlee Beach Provincial Park over this past summer? What will be done to mitigate the water quality?

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 7 Hon. Ms. Scott-Wallace (Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins, Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, PC): Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. The member opposite knows this answer very well because we gave him a full briefing on it last week. He knows very well that there is an incredible plan in place. We are ready to consult with the communities. We have a plan to collect water and to clean the water. It is going to ensure that every drop of water that is contaminated . . .

We know that it is most certainly not coming from Parlee Beach or the provincial park. Thank you. [Translation] SCHOOLS Mr. K. Chiasson (Tracadie-Sheila, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. Can the young people and staff of Polyvalente W.-Arthur-Losier expect to see the last two phases of their school’s midlife upgrade in the capital budget for the current year? Thank you. Hon. Mr. Hogan (Carleton, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, PC): Thank you to the opposition member for his question.

I am pleased to rise to answer it. Right now, the situation in our schools is being looked at to determine what will have to be done in the future. The number of students has increased from 5 000 to 7 000 over the past two years. New students are registering every month; there are more and more of them, and it is a good problem to have. About two years ago, some schools had to be closed because there were not enough students. There are things to be determined concerning our infrastructure, which is very important.

Yes, the school the member opposite mentioned in his question about the continuation of the midlife upgrade is on the list with other schools that also need midlife improvements. [Original] ABORTION Ms. Thériault (Caraquet, L): Mr. Speaker, to the Minister responsible for Women’s Equality, I would like to know: What is your plan to improve access to abortion services in New Brunswick and support a woman’s right to choose? Hon. S. Wilson (Moncton Southwest, Minister responsible for Women’s Equality; Minister responsible for Addictions and Mental Health Services, PC): I thank the member opposite for that question.

While I am up answering this question, I just want to say a huge thank you to all the mental health service providers in this province who go to work every day and do not know what to expect. The member opposite knows that we have three hospitals that support those services for the women in New Brunswick. Abortion services are there for any woman who needs them

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 8 at three . . . One in Bathurst, and two in Moncton, actually. So, those services are provided now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] FLOODS Ms. Landry (Madawaska Les-Lacs-Edmundston, L): Mr. Speaker, June 29 was a historic day for people in the Edmundston area and especially in the Saint-Jacques neighbourhood. In fact, the amount of rain that fell over the course of a few hours had a devastating impact on municipal infrastructure and over 260 private residences.

With billions of dollars in surpluses, what will the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure do to provide assistance to the Edmundston municipality and the desperate people in the Saint-Jacques neighbourhood? [Original] Hon. Mr. Ames (Carleton-York, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, PC): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I was trying to catch the total question. We had a great visit. I do believe that the member opposite is talking about when I was up in that municipality. We did have a great visit this summer. The member opposite was there with the team.

We spent the day looking at a lot of different projects and pieces of infrastructure that certainly do need some attention. We are working with the community, and we will look after . . . Working together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] NURSING HOMES Mr. M. LeBlanc (Restigouche-Chaleur, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last month, I had the opportunity to meet with the director and board members of Villa Sormany, a provincial nursing home in Robertville.

The issues of staffing and the lack of empathy from this government in regard to what the staff is going through were some of the main concerns raised during the meeting. So, that has an impact on services provided to residents. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Seniors: What does she intend to do to improve the situation for nursing home employees in our province? [Original] Hon. Ms.

Green (Fredericton North, Minister of Social Development; Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation; Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, PC): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Seniors in New Brunswick are incredibly important. We acknowledge that the number of seniors in the province is

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 9 growing very quickly. We are looking at long-term solutions. We are actually looking at what it is going to be like in New Brunswick in 20 years’ time. We are doing the planning now to ensure that seniors in New Brunswick are well taken care of.

We have a focus on keeping seniors happy and healthy in their own homes and are working with the regional health authorities, the Department of Health, Addiction and Mental Health Services, and all the other departments to ensure that we have a solid plan—a governmentwide plan—to support seniors going forward. We know that this may be the biggest issue that we will be facing 10 years down the road. I am very happy to talk about seniors and all the work that we are doing for them, and I will answer more questions if you ask them. INFRASTRUCTURE Mr. G. Arseneault (Campbellton-Dalhousie, L): Mr.

Speaker, one year ago, the overpass at the Blair Malcolm Road was hit by a transport truck, and nothing has been done since. I would like to ask the minister to give us an update as to when the work will start, what work will be done, and when it will be finished. Thank you. Hon. Mr. Ames (Carleton-York, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, PC): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Actually, I gave the member opposite a briefing on the Malcolm bridge at—I do not know what time it was—three o’clock or four o’clock yesterday afternoon, so my apologies if I do not have the specific details right here now.

But I can tell you that every morning, I wake up to 18 000 km of roads, 5 500 bridges, 8 ferries, 7 river crossings, 5 coastal ferries, 6 million ft2 of government-owned buildings with 142 leases, 56 tower sites, and many other things. As I said, I do not have the specific details on this question right now, but we did give him a briefing yesterday afternoon. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. C. Chiasson (Victoria-La Vallée, L): And, every day, we wake up to this government’s inaction. Mr.

Speaker, in discussions with a few of my friends who work in the judiciary, it seems that the new justice building in Fredericton, should it ever be completed, is not even big enough to meet the needs today, let alone into the future. My question to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure is this: What consultations, if any, were had with the judiciary, the very people who will be using this building for the next half-century? Hon. Mr. Austin (Fredericton-Grand Lake, Minister of Public Safety, PC): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to rise to answer this question.

As you know, inflation is hitting all of Canada. Thanks to the Trudeau carbon tax, prices are going up on everything, and the courthouse is no different. What we, as a government, pay for supplies and services is the same as what the private sector pays when it comes to these buildings. The courthouse is absolutely being worked on, and more will be done. I can assure you that this government

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 10 is going to continue to work to make sure that justice and public safety and other issues in relation to crime will be dealt with here in New Brunswick. Thank you. Mr. Legacy (Bathurst West-Beresford, L): Mr. Speaker, in this House, we talk about processes and requests for proposals (RFP), which makes dialogue very impersonal, but out there, people wait and hope for relief for a hospital in Bathurst that is overburdened with patients who do not belong there.

The solution offered by this government last year was a 60-bed nursing home. The Minister responsible for Seniors has not been willing to give us an update. Can she give those people an update today on what is going on with this 60-bed nursing home and when we will see this project completed? Hon. Ms. Green (Fredericton North, Minister of Social Development; Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation; Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, PC): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you very much for the question.

An RFP, a request for proposals, was put out for nursing homes in four locations: Bathurst, Bouctouche, Moncton, and Oromocto. The RFP was closed, and the Department of Social Development began negotiations with the successful bidders on those nursing homes. In one instance, the negotiations are complete. I am happy to say that the Minister responsible for Seniors will be coming out next week, I think, with an announcement about who the successful bidder is and when that project will start. With respect to the other three nursing homes, negotiations are ongoing.

We hope for a resolution very shortly on one, and for the other two, early in the new year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. CARBON TAX Mr. Bourque (Kent South, L): Mr. Speaker, before I ask my next question, I do want to talk about the same old, tired argument about the carbon tax that this government keeps talking about. They talk about how much this will increase the cost of living. We are talking about 0.1% of the total inflation rate—0.1%. They can yap all they want about that, but it barely has an impact on our economy. So keep going. New Brunswickers are tired of listening to that same old crap.

NURSING HOMES Now, the other thing I want to mention is this. My question has to do with the nursing home in Bouctouche, which was announced. We have not heard anything. We have heard only crickets since then, so I want an update. The minister actually gave sort of an update, but I would appreciate it if she could dive a little deeper on the Bouctouche situation. Thank you. Hon. Ms. Green (Fredericton North, Minister of Social Development; Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation; Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, PC): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I said that one

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 11 has been awarded, and that one will be announced next week. The team is working on putting that together. It is not the Bouctouche location—I will tell you that. We have been in contact with the bidders on . . . (Interjections.) Hon. Ms. Green (Fredericton North, Minister of Social Development; Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation; Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, PC): Listen when I answer your question.

We have been in contact with the bidders in the Bouctouche location. They have been in discussions very recently with the Department of Social Development, and we continue to work on negotiating a successful contract on that nursing home. Mr. Speaker, this government is committed to protecting and taking care of seniors. This is just part of our plan moving forward to ensure that we have enough spaces and the right spaces for seniors as they move from their own home into managed care. We want to be part of that, and we want to make sure that we have the right answers in the right locations for the seniors.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. SMALL NUCLEAR REACTORS Mr. Coon (Fredericton South, Leader, G): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Incredibly, this government wants to change the law to enable NB Power to buy electricity from small nuclear reactors. Why? Because the nuclear option will blow our power rates sky-high, and the Electricity Act is designed to prevent that from happening. These high costs are exactly why the nuclear industry rejected small reactors in the first place. It is because it could not get the economies of scale necessary to make an economic case for nuclear power.

Forty years of experience with Point Lepreau has demonstrated that even with those economies of scale, nuclear power is expensive power. Mr. Speaker, NB Power is not an industrial development agency. It is our electric utility. Why is the minister willing to blow up our power rates to force NB Power customers to pay for this government’s poor excuse for industrial development? Hon. Mr. Holland (Albert, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, PC): Mr. Speaker, you have no idea how happy I am to hear a question of that nature come from the opposition.

If the Green Party had its way, based on that philosophy, we would not have solar and we would not have wind. If we look into the history of energy development, we will see that there was nothing more expensive than solar and nothing more expensive than wind when it came to being the first of a kind. This is a situation where we are putting forward an innovative technology. We are absolutely not forcing the utility to do anything. The legislation, as it existed, would have prevented the utility from participating. It would have built a unit and not have been able to benefit from the power that it generated.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 12 That sounds like a business model that only the Green Party could get behind. It makes no sense, Mr. Speaker. I will tell you this right now. That lack of business acumen would very poorly serve the province of New Brunswick if that party ever formed an alliance with the Liberals. I cannot believe that the official opposition would even be having the conversation about forming an alliance. Heaven help us all if that happens. Mr. Coon (Fredericton South, Leader, G): Mr.

Speaker, this government’s infatuation with small nuclear power plants reminds me of the infatuation that Richard Hatfield had with the big ones. He wanted to build six nuclear power plants along the border because he thought he could cash in on the forecasted demand for electricity in the United States, but they were too costly, and the market did not materialize. It reminds me a little bit, Mr. Speaker, of Hatfield’s Bricklin plant. It was an expensive car with no market that had never been built before. That is what we are looking at here, except that small nuclear reactors are inherently far more dangerous.

New Brunswick’s dalliance with nuclear power has already racked up $3.3 billion in debt, according to the Auditor General. It has to be paid down by jacking up our power rates. Why does the Premier want to use the force of the law to blow our power rates sky-high to pay for his obsession with small nuclear power plants? Hon. Mr. Holland (Albert, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, PC): To the member opposite, to answer the second question . . . Hopefully, there is a third, fourth, and fifth question.

We could do this all day because I want to stand up and talk about our commitment to creating a clean, green economy that is going to not only power New Brunswick and the country but also contribute to the entire global crisis that we are facing right now. Energy futures have never been so at risk. The globe is looking at nuclear. This is not a New Brunswick-born idea. This is not something that comes from a Premier’s Office.

We are working and actually have ourselves in the position of leading an industry for a change, and the Green Party would have us sit down, forget all of that, and keep New Brunswick in an oppressed state. We will not stand for that. We are going to put New Brunswick first. We are going to deliver on something where we can not only create non-emitting energy that is going to benefit New Brunswick but also put revenue back in the pockets of a province that desperately needs it. This gives us an opportunity to stand on our own two feet and say that we are generating something, not benefiting— Mr. Speaker (Hon.

Bill Oliver): Thank you, minister. Order.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 13 [Translation] BRIDGES Mr. Mallet (Shippagan-Lamèque-Miscou, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Original] This question is for the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. [Translation] I would like to know why, in New Brunswick, an ambulance with its lights flashing can still be stopped in front of a gate lowered at the entrance to a certain bridge. It has to stay there until the deck of the infamous bridge comes back down.

Is the minister aware that an ambulance was again stopped at the entrance to this bridge while its deck was lifted, when it was transporting a patient to a hospital centre for urgent care? [Original] Hon. Mr. Ames (Carleton-York, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, PC): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. All that I heard was “bridges and ambulances”. I apologize, but I do not have the details for him. Mr. Speaker, let’s talk about winter maintenance because that is important right now. The toll-free number is 1 833 384-4111. This is the number for the Transportation Information Centre.

It is actually a very important topic. The winter weather is setting in, and it is very important that people take caution and drive on our roads properly. This 800-line can certainly be reached 24-7. Anytime you feel that the roads are unsafe, please call that number and our transportation team will take a look at it, seriously. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. DAY CARE Ms. Holt (Bathurst East—Nepisiguit—Saint-Isidore, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am going to attempt my question for the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development again. [Translation] There is a nonprofit daycare in Moncton that wants 120 spaces for children, but it has only received 15 designated spaces. The minister has 1 000 spaces paid for by the federal government and ready to be allocated to daycares. There are several nonprofit daycares in Bathurst. In Moncton, there is Garderie McLaughlin. Will Minister Hogan take action today?

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 14 Hon. Mr. Hogan (Carleton, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, PC): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I am aware of that daycare’s file. The permits allowing us to allocate more spaces to it have just been signed. I spoke to a young mother, Monique, who lives in that area. She is so happy that we are going to allocate these spaces. It is something we do in cooperation with the federal government. Even speaking of . . .

It is good that we can allocate these spaces to a nonprofit early childhood education centre, but the fact remains that we can speak to and renegotiate our agreement with the federal government for the other spaces. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Original] CANADA PENSION Ms. Holt (Bathurst East—Nepisiguit—Saint-Isidore, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. New Brunswickers are worried about the future. Many New Brunswickers are wondering whether they are ever going to be able to retire. Seniors in particular are wondering about the stability and the security of their pensions.

We have serious concerns with what Danielle Smith has proposed, and the people of New Brunswick should not have to worry about the security of their retirement. Instead of admiring Premier Smith when she proposes something that threatens New Brunswickers’ retirement and its security, will the Premier defend New Brunswickers’ interests and make sure that our retirements and pensions are protected? Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Thank you for the question. We will absolutely defend the ability for our pensions to be secure.

We have proven that over the years, Mr. Speaker. But in relation to Alberta and that Premier, I think that what she is trying to bring attention to is the importance that Alberta has to the economy of this country. She is trying to bring that to attention on many files, as did the previous Premier of Alberta. Unfortunately, federal policies have basically shut down their revenue stream, yet we think that they are going to be able to continue to fund the rest of the country. So, Mr. Speaker, maybe we should just rethink some of the faux pas that have been made to shut down our energy industry.

Would it not be nice, right now, to have an oil line here to supply Europe so that they would not be taking Russian fuel? Would that not be nice, Mr. Speaker? Instead, we gave Ukraine money to fight the Russians and then we allow Europe to buy Russian fuel, so we are feeding that industry on the other side and funding that side of the war. Mr. Speaker, we have an opportunity here, and I am sure that at the end of the day, Alberta wants to be part of Canada and it wants Canada to be a part too. Mr. Speaker (Hon. Bill Oliver): Question period is over.