The New Brunswick Liberal Party has been vocal in its criticism of the Progressive Conservative (PC) government led by Premier Blaine Higgs, accusing it of mishandling key issues such as healthcare, housing, cost of living, and education.
The Liberals have expressed their opposition to the policy, a controversial plan to restructure the province’s health system that would reduce the hours of operation of six rural hospitals. The policy sparked a rebellion among eight PC MLAs, including six cabinet ministers, who publicly expressed their “extreme disappointment” and refused to take their seats in the legislature for two hours.
The Liberal leader, Roger Melanson, said the policy was “a slap in the face” to rural communities and called for Higgs to resign or face a non-confidence vote. However, the Liberals have not been clear on how they would bring the motion to the floor, and the PC rebels have since returned to their seats and voted for government legislation.
The Liberals have also taken aim at the government’s budget for 2022, which they said was based on “manipulation, misdirection, and misinformation.” The Liberals claimed the budget did not address the rising costs of living, the housing crisis, the labour shortage, and the climate emergency. They also said the budget was “out of touch” with the needs and priorities of New Brunswickers.
The Liberals have published a report card grading the government’s performance on various files, giving it failing marks on most of them. The report card said the government has failed to deliver on its promises, such as reducing wait times, improving access to mental health services, increasing the minimum wage, and implementing a carbon tax.
The Liberals have also questioned the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying it has been inconsistent, reactive, and unprepared. They have called for more transparency, accountability, and consultation on the public health measures and the vaccination rollout.
The Liberals have said they are ready to offer a “positive, progressive, and inclusive” alternative to the current administration, and have vowed to listen to and work with all New Brunswickers. They have said they have a vision for a “fairer, greener, and more prosperous” province.
The next provincial election is scheduled for 2024, but some political observers have speculated that it could be triggered sooner if the government loses the confidence of the legislature or the public. The latest polls suggest the Liberals have a strong lead over the PCs in the province-wide support, but they still face challenges in winning seats in the southern and anglophone regions.
