REMARKS Closure of the Throne Speech Debate December 5, 2008 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

Transcription

1 Mr. Speaker, I want to begin today by thanking His Honour for delivering the Speech from the Throne last week. I recognize you and the Deputy Speakers who bring order and decorum to this House. I thank the staff of the Legislative Assembly, the public service and all those who work so hard behind the scenes. I want to offer my most heartfelt thanks to my cabinet and caucus colleagues. They are working so hard every single day to build a better New Brunswick. Mr. Speaker, as the year draws to a close, December is a natural time for reflection. That is perhaps even more the case as this particular year comes to an end. The economic events of recent weeks and months changed the whole tone of They have forced us individuals, families, businesses and, yes, government to stop and think; to ask ourselves some important questions: what do we value most? What are our priorities? And what s the best way to get through this? So, Mr. Speaker, as I rise today to support our government s third Throne Speech, I want to speak to New Brunswickers about what has happened, what that means going forward for each of us and why I am confident that because of the steps we have taken and continue to take toward self sufficiency, New Brunswick will not only weather this economic storm, we ll come out stronger on the other side. While the economic and financial crisis has resulted in great uncertainty around the globe, I think it is important to point out that for the first three quarters of the year, our province s economy performed as expected and major capital projects proceeded as planned. But, of course, Mr. Speaker, as summer came to an end, things began to change and change rapidly. On Wednesday, the Minister of Finance, presented an economic and fiscal update to New Brunswickers that clearly outlines the significant challenges we face this year and next. With growth beginning to slow and with the impact of the financial market meltdown and other factors outside the government s control, we are now projecting a deficit for Going forward the situation is projected to become even more challenging with significantly slower economic growth and subsequently increased budgetary pressures for Mr. Speaker, the Minister put in economic and financial terms what many New Brunswickers themselves are witnessing in their own households and businesses. There is no doubt: we are not immune to the impact of the global economic slowdown. Page 1 of 10

2 Because whether you re a lobster fisherman or a manufacturer trying to sell your product on the American market, whether you are an independent retailer who relies on American suppliers or whether you ve invested your savings on the Toronto Stock Exchange you already know that we are not immune. This economic and financial crisis will affect us all. Government is not unlike the many New Brunswickers who have been carefully managing their family finances, who have been investing in their retirement or who have been making prudent decisions about their business. While they themselves were making good choices and smart investments, they ve not been able to escape the impact of the economic downturn. Mr. Speaker, I understand that New Brunswickers are feeling uncertain, many are worried. It would be impossible to witness the events of the past couple of months and not feel anxiety. And I know that New Brunswickers are looking to government for leadership, serious leadership and serious solutions that are a match for the challenges of the days to come. So I want to talk about what our government is going to do, about the balanced approach and decisive action we ll be delivering to lead our province through this crisis. On Wednesday, the Minister of Finance also unveiled a four point action plan aimed at stimulating the economy and helping it recover as quickly as possible from the economic slowdown. This is no time for timid measures. Last week, the Leader of the Opposition had the opportunity to present real and concrete suggestions for dealing with the present economic crisis. What we heard was the announcement of a new Ask the Premier website and support of our legislation to ensure equality of all common law couples, legislation his former conservative government should have acted on years ago. Mr. Speaker, it s not so much that these are bad ideas, they re just remarkably insufficient. I know the Leader is well intentioned, but the size of the Opposition s ideas doesn t come close to matching the scope of the crisis we face. And let me be very clear this is the broadest and deepest economic crisis of our generation. Mr. Speaker, this is a time for strategic decision making not website gimmicks. This is a time to very carefully and systematically assess the programs and services government provides to New Brunswickers to ensure that they are delivered in the most effective and efficient manner possible. To this end, the first point of our action plan will help us ensure we strike the right balance between restraint and investments. On the restraint side, a program and service review is currently underway to focus investments where they are most needed and in a way that is efficient and cost effective. And Mr. Speaker, we want to ensure that the programs and services New Brunswick taxpayers support help us achieve self sufficiency. I want to assure Page 2 of 10

3 New Brunswickers that we will be diligent in this process but that we will work with the public service to ensure that we find efficiencies without severely impacting public service jobs. Amongst other options to explore, we will factor in the upcoming wave of retirements in the public service as an opportunity to help us realize efficiencies. When it comes to belt tightening, we re going to lead by example here in this Legislative Assembly by freezing the salaries for all MLAs for the coming year. Because I believe that you can only ask of others what you yourself are prepared to do. Mr. Speaker a program of restraint helps pave the way for strategic and significant investments in infrastructure the second point in our plan. Next week, the Minister of Finance will release a capital budget that will be the largest in the province s history. Over the next two years, over $1.2 billion in capital investments will be made. On Tuesday, the Minister of Finance will announce the details of the first year of this commitment with a $660 million capital budget. This represents an increase of almost $200 million more that our last capital budget. This record breaking funding will allow buildings to be erected, and schools and hospitals to be improved in communities around New Brunswick. Our innovative asset management program will continue and we will see hundreds of millions invested in roads, highways, and bridges. And these investments are expected to generate approximately 6,000 person years of employment in the New Brunswick economy. Mr Speaker, these massive investments are important in the short and medium term to stimulate the economy, put people to work across the entire Province and to help bring our sons and daughters home not just for Christmas but for good. As the executive director of the Construction Association of New Brunswick said yesterday in the Telegraph Journal we have indications that workers are already in there cars on their way back to New Brunswick and they re in the hundreds. Mr. Speaker these investments are also important in the long term because they are not simply make work projects. They are critical to our self sufficiency agenda. And nothing could be more critical than improving our community college and university infrastructure around the province. To start, I am pleased to announce today that a new $35 million community college will be built in Edmundston. This investment is in response to the community s recommendation to integrate post secondary education resources in the Northwest. In Saint John, we will be investing close to $45 million in community college facilities. Our investment in the Port City is a result of our government s commitment to the Benefits Blueprint initiative. Mr. Speaker we have worked closely with both cities and their engaged citizens to address their needs and to ensure that we prepare the workforce across the province to transform our economy and become more self sufficient. Page 3 of 10

4 In the coming weeks we will unveil further capital investments in post secondary education infrastructure. Our action plan for post secondary education is clear. In order to give New Brunswickers the educational opportunities they need, investments must be made in our community colleges and universities. To ensure that our colleges and universities have the best infrastructure within which to build the best system, over the next two years we will be investing over $160 million in new facility construction and in renovations to existing buildings. We will also make significant capital investments in schools in all regions of the province. For example, in this capital budget Ste Thérèse elementary school in Dieppe will see an investment of $11 million for a major addition and renovations; and Andover Elementary will have a new gymnasium. Again Mr. Speaker others projects will be unveiled soon. Mr. Speaker bold actions and strategic investments are what this serious situation demands not a meeting here and there, or petty politics. By making these important investments, we ll be putting New Brunswickers to work in the short term and providing quality educational opportunities for our children and young people in the long term. And while we are busy building those important assets and creating jobs we are also going to be helping the private sector and individual New Brunswickers do their part to get us through this tough time. That s the wonderful thing about this province we have the people and the business smarts right here to help build a self sufficient future and we are creating the environment that will entice even more people and businesses to be a part of it. Mr. Speaker, we re going to increase access to capital by working to ensure that small, medium and large businesses with solid business plans have access to the funds they need to maintain and create jobs here in New Brunswick. Mr. Speaker, we will lower the tax burden and we will position New Brunswick as having one of the most competitive tax regimes in Canada and indeed in North America. Let me be very clear on this point, we will be strategic and we will be bold in our approach to tax reform. But bold and strategic action doesn t mean that we have not heard what New Brunswickers have had to say I want to assure you that we have and that we are weighing those concerns carefully as we move forward. Before year s end, we will present the broad strokes of our tax reform with specific details to be announced at budget time. Our ultimate goal remains: we will create a competitive tax structure to foster more economic opportunities here at home so New Brunswickers don t have to look elsewhere for work and so they are able to keep more of their hard earned money. Mr Speaker we have a plan and we are acting on that plan. Perhaps the members opposite will discuss what they might do in the face of this grave situation at their policy convention next fall if it s not further delayed! Page 4 of 10

5 Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House we have a balanced approach to manage government expenditures while injecting hundreds of millions of dollars into infrastructure, into businesses and into tax relief for New Brunswickers and their families. Yes, Mr. Speaker, this plan will mean accepting short term deficits and increases in net debt. But, Mr. Speaker, there are times putting yourself through school, buying your first home, starting a new business when assuming some debt and having higher than normal expenditures is necessary in the short term in order to create opportunity in the long term. I want to re affirm to New Brunswickers that while short term deficits are necessary to lead our province through this economic storm, we are committed to avoiding on going and unsustainable deficits in the medium and long term. I am encouraged by Standard & Poor s recent affirmation of the province s AA credit rating as I know the Department of Finance keeps them well informed of our financial and economic status. In fact Mr. Speaker, we are committed to returning New Brunswick to surpluses within the next couple of years. Our action plan is important to address the current economic challenges but it s also important to create long term opportunities for people to build their lives here, in New Brunswick. Opportunities will be created for New Brunswickers to stay and work in our province; opportunities that will bring our sons and daughters, our friends and neighbours home. That has been the goal of the self sufficiency agenda and that s why the case for continuing towards greater self reliance has never been stronger. As we move forward on this bold economic plan, we will continue to build upon the three cornerstones of self sufficiency: economic development, energy and education. We will be a leader in economic development. We ll work with our resource industries to ensure that they are diversified and modernized. We ll lay a stronger foundation for the forest industry to build upon when the North American forest sector rebounds. Along with the stakeholders in the agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries sectors, we re developing long term plans for these industries so that our rural communities will not only survive but thrive. And we will release a new tourism strategy to support this important sector in achieving its full potential. Page 5 of 10

6 We will be a leader in energy. The refurbishment of the Point Lepreau generating station is progressing. Last year, Team CANDU concluded that there is a market and a solid business case for building a new Advanced CANDU ACR-1000 plant. We hope to proceed to the next phase of this project in the near future. TransAlta has recently gone on line with the largest wind farm in Atlantic Canada at Kent Hills. When it is fully operational it will be providing 300 megawatts of electricity to the grid. Tidal energy opportunities also continue to be explored. Innovative opportunities in biomass energy are bringing together the forestry and energy sectors. And we continue to work with New Brunswick firms to make sure they can take advantage of the supply chain opportunities presented by the New Brunswick energy hub. And, Mr. Speaker, we are building the best education system in the country. We recently issued a request for proposals for four new early childhood development centres as part of our early childhood strategy. By giving our pre school kids the best start, we are laying the foundation for future success in the classroom. More New Brunswick children than ever before are meeting their goals in reading and writing. Building the best education system starts with finding what works and working together to address our weaknesses. New strategies and resources will be introduced to ensure greater achievement in literacy, numeracy and science. Through the Innovative Learning Fund, we are sharing the best ideas of our most creative teachers and creating a culture of innovation throughout our schools. And tonight, Mr. Speaker, I will participate in opening of the Summit on Francophone Schools. The Commission on Francophone Schools will present the results of the recent consultations to ensure that students have the chance to succeed in both official languages. Now more than ever, ensuring New Brunswickers get the skills they need at a price they can afford is an essential investment. Our post secondary education plan, Be Inspired. Be Ready. Be Better, is the most comprehensive commitment to post secondary education in New Brunswick in decades. In the coming months, we will be addressing these recommendations and we will do so working closely with students, educators and administrators in our community colleges and universities. As post secondary education is transformed, we are affirm our commitment to work towards preserving and promoting the language and culture of our two linguistic Page 6 of 10

7 communities, the principles of linguistic duality and the legal framework regarding official languages in New Brunswick. We will work hard to help students with the cost of their post secondary education. Mr. Speaker, we ll work with universities to increase collaboration, boost our research and innovation capacity, increase applied and articulated programs and strengthen the links between communities and post secondary institutions. We will announce concrete steps to allow the New Brunswick Community College to reach its potential, start the process towards a modern autonomous college system and increase college course offerings to provide more availability and more choice. And we will create a more flexible and responsive apprenticeship system that will result in more New Brunswickers getting this important on the job experience. Mr. Speaker, focusing on these cornerstones will help us deal with the economic challenges we face today while at the same time moving toward our longer term goal of achieving selfsufficiency. I have said from the beginning that self sufficiency is not something that will be achieved by a single government or Premier, nor it is something that will be achieved by governmental effort alone. It requires the full engagement and support of New Brunswickers and of all sectors of New Brunswick s economy and society. Achieving self sufficiency requires all New Brunswickers to think, to plan and to act. The case for cooperation has only strengthened in the face of this global economic crisis. That s why, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that early in the New Year we will convene a Roundtable on Self Sufficiency. This will be the first of a series of discussions with all sectors of our society business and labour, education and social services, First Nations, and arts and community organizations. Before Christmas, I will form and meet with a planning group and mandate them to put together the first Roundtable meeting in the New Year. Mr. Speaker, while economic development, energy and education are the cornerstones of our self sufficiency agenda moving forward, we recognize there are other things we must do as a government. Important health reforms in our provincial health plan will continue and, as the Throne Speech outlined, new measures will be unveiled for mental health and addictions. Page 7 of 10

8 The public engagement initiative, Bringing the Pieces Together, will get underway as New Brunswickers come together to develop a long term comprehensive action plan to break the cycle of poverty. Mr. Speaker, we continue to address the recommendations of the community non profit sector through our response: Delivering on the Blueprint. I should mention, Mr. Speaker, that today is International Volunteer Day so I hope all members will join me in thanking the more than 270,000 New Brunswickers who make a contribution to the volunteer and nonprofit sector. They are motivated by the belief that by getting involved they can make a difference and we ve seen the proof. From youth sports to arts organizations, from community events to helping those who need it the most, our communities are better for our volunteers. And in the days ahead, we need this sector and the contribution they make to our communities more than ever. Finally, Mr. Speaker, through our legislative agenda, we will uphold our responsibility for the security of New Brunswickers through cleaner water and safer communities, timelier access to justice and greater pay equity for women. Mr. Speaker, as we navigate this economic storm, there will be tough decisions ahead. And that s not going to be popular with everyone. Mr. Speaker, there will no doubt be an urge from members on the other side of the House to seize on unpopular decisions. I would call on Opposition members to put aside short term political convenience and, rather, work with us on long term, prudent decision making. Because, Mr. Speaker, these are serious times and they are going to require serious choices. In times of challenge you cannot retreat, you must respond. I believe a crisis presents an opportunity for each of us. Talents, strengths and ideas that lie undiscovered in times of prosperity can be awoken by times of adversity. Mr. Speaker, the days, months and weeks ahead will require each of us here in this Chamber and throughout this province to draw on the best parts of ourselves. We must be prudent and disciplined in our decisions. We must be innovative in our ideas. Page 8 of 10

9 We must be compassionate with one another. And we must be tireless in our efforts. New Brunswickers have a remarkable way of overcoming adversity. And, that is why I am confident that when this current crisis has passed, New Brunswick will be even stronger. Because, Mr. Speaker, as daunting a challenge that lies before us, my optimism and my confidence in New Brunswickers has not been dampened in fact both have grown. Mr. Speaker, there s a lot of uncertainty around the current economic situation but there s one thing we know for sure: we are all in this together and our best hope is to work through this together. In the end, Mr. Speaker, we will be stronger for it. If we come together if we boldly attack these challenges together, we will be stronger. Our province will be stronger and we will be that much closer to a self sufficient New Brunswick. And, Mr. Speaker, as I close today I want to say how proud I am of the team around me. Since taking office two years ago, they ve confronted challenges with courage and compassion, with wisdom and with strength. They re changing the way New Brunswickers learn and reforming the way health care is delivered. They re overseeing the largest capital investments in New Brunswick history and an unprecedented expansion in the energy sector. They re making New Brunswick the place to be in business in Canada. They re working with farmers, with fishermen and with the forest industry to make sure communities of all sizes rural and urban can be part of self sufficiency. Here at home and around the world, they re promoting tourism, culture and all New Brunswick has to offer. They re reaching out to the volunteer and non profit sector, to municipalities and to our First Nations. They re caring for our elderly, safe guarding our children and ensuring that as we move forward, no one is left behind. They re protecting our communities, protecting our environment and promoting equality and justice. Page 9 of 10

10 They re changing the way government works. And they re charting a prudent financial course through the stormiest economic crisis in well over a generation. And every day, Mr. Speaker, every single day, they are working tirelessly to put the needs of New Brunswickers first. In the turmoil of global economic uncertainty, there is no team with whom I would rather walk through this storm with. And, Mr. Speaker, I want to assure New Brunswickers that this is the best team to lead this province through the days ahead, this is the best team to ensure that New Brunswick s greatest days are yet to come and this is the best team to ensure we can achieve and will achieve our goal of a self sufficient New Brunswick. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Merci. Page 10 of 10