Premier Blaine Higgs was defending his government’s decision to cut a number of infrastructure projects in its capital budget such as twinning portions of Route 11.
In the Legislature Higgs stated his government will not spend 50 cents dollars for the sake of spending money.
“We have bridges, we have roads, we have schools, we have places we need to put money for the future of our province, we don’t need to invest in projects because there is money in Ottawa to pay half the costs,” stated Higgs.
That prompted a very heated response from Lisa Harris, the MLA for Miramichi-Neguac.
“I would say to the Premier, ask the families that have lost family members on Route 11 and ask them if the 50 cent dollar was worth it”, stated Harris.
Higgs also defended cutting the new Fredericton Courthouse and refurbished Centennial Building saying “the last thing we need is another government building”.