The Progressive Conservative government’s first budget has passed in the legislature after days of debate.
Premier Blaine Higgs closed the budget debate on Friday and MLAs voted 24-23 in favour of it.
Higgs said this may not have been the budget some New Brunswickers wanted, but it’s one the province needs.
“I believe everyone who takes the time to analyze our first budget fairly will conclude we made decisions to make government affordable and sustainable today so we will continue to fund essential services for New Brunswickers who will need them in the future,” said Higgs.
The Tories and People’s Alliance voted for the budget while the Liberals and Greens voted against it.
Today we voted on the budget. Aujourd'hui on a voté le budget.
English press release: https://t.co/W3ddFdo5hf
Communiqué de presse en français: https://t.co/XtocoMUfoa pic.twitter.com/DgJTqoP3Oz— David Coon (@DavidCCoon) March 29, 2019
The budget projects a $23-million surplus and a $49-million reduction to the net debt.
Higgs said the government has taken a significant step towards stabilizing the province’s economy.
“We never had a revenue problem, Mr. Speaker,” he said. “The governments of New Brunswick have consistently had a spending problem, until now.”
In a statement, Green Party leader David Coon said the budget is greatly lacking in vision.
“The problem with the budget is it represents the status quo, when we need system change to address the growing crisis in health and senior care, the epidemic in youth mental illness, increasing homelessness, and the climate emergency,” said Coon.
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