Key Commitments

HOLD THE LINE ON TAXES
New Brunswick needs to have a conversation about taxes. If we want world-class public services, from roads to hospitals, we have to pay for them. We will hold the line on income, corporate, and sales taxes for two years. During that time we will hold province-wide consultations on what we want our government to do and, in light of those consultations, develop our long-term economic strategy.

STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY
The NDP will cut MLA pay by 20% and pensions by over 50%, then give control over setting politicians’ benefits to a fully independent commission. We will ban floor-crossing by MLAs, introduce a bill to change the electoral system, and call by-elections immediately upon the death or resignation of an MLA, ending the government’s power to time by-elections to suit its political needs.

PROTECT FRONT-LINE PUBLIC SERVICES
Successful societies need strong public services like health, education and good roads. That means maintaining the front-line services we need, supported by a bureaucracy that is as streamlined and efficient as possible. Too often, governments cut front-line services while adding more layers to the bureaucracy. Because of this, the NDP commits to preserving the jobs of all front-line service workers during its first term in office.

DEFEND HEALTH AND EDUCATION
Health care costs are increasing rapidly as our population ages. The cost of our schools increases as enrolment declines. In addition to protecting the jobs of front-line health and education workers, the NDP will work to make our health and education systems more efficient and focused on the needs of patients and students, not well-paid private consultants. Our Helping Hands Tax Credit will help people looking after loved ones who are disabled or elderly, increasing their quality of life and reducing the burden on the health care system.

FIGHT POVERTY
The NDP will introduce the Poverty Reduction Plan Plus. It will focus on literacy - currently at an unacceptable 56% according to Statistics Canada - and on people not in work, in school, or in other government programs. Without a literate workforce we cannot compete with the rest of the world in a globalised economy. Fighting poverty isn’t just the right thing to do: it’s an economic necessity.

FIGHT WASTE
Too often, government programs get a bad reputation because they are badly designed and repeat mistakes. The NDP will end government interference in business by dismantling Business New Brunswick and ending cash handouts to businesses. We will replace handouts with tax credits for businesses that hire new workers. We will establish a provincial Efficiency Office to make our public services as efficient and streamlined as possible, which means a focus on front-line services, not bureaucracy.

WE WILL MAKE NO PROMISES WE CANNOT KEEP
In this election, with our province facing a financial crisis, there are many areas with a real need for new and effective government programs. But, because of Conservative and Liberal recklessness, there is no money to support those programs. The NDP will balance the books to save health and education and, once that goal is achieved, we can talk together about new ideas to make our province better. The NDP has clear priorities for what we want to achieve when resources allow; we hope you’ll share those values.

For us, a provincial pharmacare program comes first. We are the only province, except PEI, not to have one. It’s a disgrace that New Brunswickers die early because they can’t afford the medicine they need. Next is a provincial childcare program, to make child care affordable and enable thousands of New Brunswickers to enter full-time work, knowing their children will be well cared for. And our third goal is to implement the 2004 government report that recommended a provincial public auto insurance program, which will reduce insurance costs for everyone – as has been proven in every province where the idea has been implemented.