Government looking forward to 2015

January 8, 2015

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government’s first days have been marked with action, completing a significant number of commitments in the document Moving New Brunswick Forward, and it plans to continue in 2015.

“We are looking forward to addressing the challenges facing us in 2015,” said Premier Brian Gallant. “We will continue to move forward with our comprehensive and diversified plan to grow our economy by building on the strengths of New Brunswickers.”

“I am very proud of the important steps we have taken to create jobs, improve our province’s fiscal situation and make life better for New Brunswick families,”  Gallant said. “We have more work ahead.”

In the next year, the government will continue to build on a number of initiatives aimed at putting New Brunswick on the right track that have already been implemented.

Commitments considered completed or underway include:

•  Control government spending with a smaller cabinet.

•  Invest more in public infrastructure to boost the economy and improve the province’s roads and bridges using asset management.

• Support and maximize the economic opportunities related to the Energy East Pipeline project.

• Establish the New Brunswick Jobs Board to ensure accountability and results in job creation.

• Create Opportunities New Brunswick, a Crown corporation driven by a private-sector board to pursue economic growth opportunities.

• Give small businesses a competitive advantage by lowering the small business corporate income tax rate.

• Implement a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing until risks to the environment, health and water are fully understood and stakeholders are better consulted.

•  Identify and remove barriers to a woman’s right to choose options for reproductive health.

• Raise the minimum wage as part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

• Establish a Youth Employment Fund to encourage youth aged 18-29 to stay in the province and gain work experience and training.

• Review the New Brunswick Drug Plan to make it fairer for small businesses and ensure costs are reasonable for taxpayers.

•  Review and release information on the forestry management plan and begin consultation with stakeholders.

• Reopen dialogue with civil service pensioners affected by the province’s pension reforms.

• Make the premier responsible for innovation, continuous improvement and better adoption of technology throughout government.

• Provide funding for a new youth mental health treatment centre.

“These efforts represent our ongoing work to fulfill our commitments and move New Brunswick forward,” Gallant said. “We will continue to report to New Brunswickers on the actions we take to execute our plan and deliver results to advance our province.”

NT3